ABSTRACT
Testicular torsion refers to the twisting of the spermatic cord structures and subsequent loss of the blood supply to the ipsilateral testicle. This is a urological emergency; early diagnosis and treatment are vital to saving the testicle and preserving future fertility. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of folic acid and zinc on some cytokines, Gonadosomatic indices and gonadal sperm reserve in rats during experimentally induced testicular torsion. Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into six groups comprising five animals each. In Group 1 (control), rats were given (1 ml/kg) normal saline for 21 days. Group 2 (sham), rats were also given (1 ml/kg) normal saline for 21 days followed by operation. Group 3 (untreated torsion/detorsion), (torsion of the right testis was done by rotating the testis 720?, twice around the longitudinal axis of the spermatic cord) in a clockwise direction for 2 hours, and thereafter , the right testis was detorted by rotating it (720?) twice anti-clockwisely; and then fixing in the right position for 1 hour. Rats in Group 4 (folic acid), were treated with (2 mg/kg) folic acid for 21 days followed induction of torsion-detorsion of the testis. Group 5 (zinc), rats were treated with (50 mg/kg) zinc for 21 days followed by experimental torsiondetorsion .Group 6 (Aspirin), rats were treated with (200 mg/kg) aspirin for 21 days and induced with torsion-detorsion. At the end of 21 days, blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture and the serum harvested was used for tumour necrosis factor-alpha and prostaglandin assays. Gonado-somatic indices of the testes, epididymis and seminal vesicles and semen parameters were evaluated. The sperm count in all the treated groups was lower than in the control but sperm morphology did not differ between the groups. There was significant (P<0.05) difference in fast movement and non-motile cells of folic acid and zinc treated groups. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in gonado-somatic indices of all treated groups, compared with the control. Treatment of the rats with either folic acid or zinc did not significantly alter their levels of prostaglandin E2 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha but there is slight decrease in PGE2 levels and TNF-α levels in folic acid and zinc treated groups, respectively. In conclusion, testicular torsion results into generation of inflammatory cytokines and their adverse effects could be reduced by administration of folic acid and zinc.