Testicular AQP1 expression in a rat model of testicular Ischemia-Reperfusion injury

AQP1 in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Mice: Expression Pattern and Impact of AQP1 Knockout on Colonic Function

Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) is one of thirteen known mammalian aquaporins. Its main function is the transport of water across cell membranes. Lately, a role of AQP has been attributed to other physiological and pathological functions including cell migration and peripheral pain perception. AQP1 has been found in several parts of the enteric nervous system, e.g., in the rat ileum and in the ovine duodenum. Its function in the intestine appears to be multifaceted and is still not completely understood. The aim of the study was to analyze the distribution and localization of AQP1 in the entire intestinal tract of mice. AQP1 expression was correlated with the hypoxic expression profile of the various intestinal segments, intestinal wall thickness and edema, as well as other aspects of colon function including the ability of mice to concentrate stools and their microbiome composition. AQP1 was found in a specific pattern in the serosa, the mucosa, and the enteric nervous system throughout the gastrointestinal tract. The highest amount of AQP1 in the gastrointestinal tract was found in the small intestine. AQP1 expression correlated with the expression profiles of hypoxia-dependent proteins such as HIF-1α and PGK1. Loss of AQP1 through knockout of AQP1 in these mice led to a reduced amount of bacteroidetes and firmicutes but an increased amount of the rest of the phyla, especially deferribacteres, proteobacteria, and verrucomicrobia. Although AQP-KO mice retained gastrointestinal function, distinct changes regarding the anatomy of the intestinal wall including intestinal wall thickness and edema were observed. Loss of AQP1 might interfere with the ability of the mice to concentrate their stool and it is associated with a significantly different composition of the of the bacterial stool microbiome.

Aquaporin-1 inhibition exacerbates ischemia-reperfusion-induced lung injury in mouse

BACKGROUND

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), which involves severe inflammation and edema, is an inevitable feature of the lung transplantation process and leads to primary graft dysfunction (PGD). The activation of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) modulates fluid transport in the alveolar space. The current study investigated the role of AQP1 in ischemia-reperfusion (IR)-induced lung injury.

METHODS

A mouse model of lung IR was established by clamping the left lung hilar for 1 h and released for reperfusion for 24 h. The AQP1 inhibitor acetazolamide (AZA) was administered 3 days before lung ischemia with a dose of 100 mg/kg per day via gavage. Lung injury was evaluated using the ratio of wet-to-dry weight, peripheral bronchial epithelial thickness, degree of angioedema, acute lung injury score, neutrophil infiltration, and cytokine concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

RESULTS

Compared with sham treatment, ischemia with no reperfusion (IR 0h) and ischemia with reperfusion for 24 h (IR 24 h) significantly upregulated AQP1 expression, increased the wet/dry weight ratio, angioedema, neutrophil infiltration and cytokine production (interleukin -6 and tumor necrosis factor -α) and thickened the peripheral bronchial epithelium. AZA exacerbated inflammation and pulmonary edema.

CONCLUSION

AQP1 may exert a protective effect against IR-induced lung injury, which could be attributed to alleviating pulmonary edema and inflammation. AQP1 upregulation might be a potential application to alleviate lung IRI and decrease the incidence of PGD.

Histopathological effects of β-hCG and vitamin C on the detorsioned testicle in rats with unilateral testicular torsion

BACKGROUND

Testicular torsion is still an urgent surgical condition and without any treatment it can cause infertility. The main pathophysiology of testicular torsion ischaemic injury however; the main sequalae of detorsion is reperfusion injury. Furthermore; treatments to prevent ischemic reperfusion injury due to decreased blood flow are important to preserve testicular function.

AIMS

Human chorionic gonadotropin β (β-hCG) is an anabolic hormone that supports steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis. Vitamin C (Vit-C) is one of the water-soluble vitamins and is also a potent antioxidant in ischemic damage. Moreover, it has protective effects by increasing blood and lymph flow in the testicles. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of β-hCG, Vit-C and their combination on ischemic reperfusion injury occurring after surgical treatment of testicular torsion.

STUDY DESIGN

Animal research studies.

METHODS

The study was performed on 25 male Wistar albino rats. The animals were divided equally into 5 groups. In the first group "Control Group," left orchiectomy was performed. In the second group "Sham Group," a 720° clockwise torsion was created and after 4 h of left testicular torsion it was detorsioned for 4 h and then left orchiectomy was performed. In the third group same procedure was applied with 30 mg vitamin C was administered via intraperitoneal route once a week for 3 weeks. In the fourth group after same surgical procedures 75 IU β-hCG was administered via intraperitoneal route once a week for 3 weeks. In the fifth group after 4 h left testicle torsion it was detorsioned for 4 h then, 75 IU β-hCG and vitamin C together were administered via intraperitoneal route once a week for 3 weeks. Left orchiectomy was performed after 3 weeks in the third, fourth and fifth groups. Specimens were evaluated histologically.

RESULTS

Testicular tissue histopathological evaluations were performed. A high histopathological stage indicates more testicular damage, and a low one was indicated less testicular damage. The average histopathological grade of vitamin C + β-hCG group was significantly higher than the average histopathological grade of the control, the sham group and vitamin C group. The average histopathological grade of the vitamin C group was significantly lower than the average histopathological grade of sham and β-hCG groups. The ratio of the testicular atrophy of the Vitamin C + β-hCG group (100%) was higher than sham (40%) and β-hCG (40%) groups with a significant difference. A significant statistical difference was found among all groups histopathological grades of testicular tissue.

CONCLUSION

In animals taking vitamin C, an improvement of histopathological findings and a significant decrease in histological stages has been provided. However, it was observed that the histological findings of β-hCG and β-hCG + vitamin C groups worsened. It was found that β-hCG increased oxidative damage in the testicles and this damage can be so severe that exceeding the capacity of potent antioxidants such as Vitamin C. We believe that β-hCG can be harmful to testicles exposed to oxidative damage.

An investigation of the effects of amniotic fluid on experimental ischemia/reperfusion damage in rat testes

INTRODUCTION

Various agents have been tested as preventive treatments for ischemia/reperfusion (IR) damage. In this study, we have investigated for the first time in the literature the efficacy of injection of amniomax (AMX) into testicular parenchyma, which is a commercial medium of rat amniotic fluid, in preventing testicular IR damage related to testicular torsion.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate whether or not amniomax has an effect on experimental IR damage in rat testes using biochemical and histopathological methods based on data in the literature. Even if testicular torsion is repaired surgically in early term injury because of de IR damage still occurs. Is it possible to reduce the ischemia reperfusion injury with amniotic fluid and increase the success of treatment?

STUDY DESIGN

40 male Wistar albino rats were included. Four groups were formed with 10 rats in each group: Sham, Ischemia/Reperfusion (IR), injection 1 min before detorsion (AMX-BD), injection 1 min after detorsion (AMX-AD). Total Oxidant Status (TOS) and Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) were computed for oxidative stress, and Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) levels were computed for the antioxidant system, for both serum and tissue. Necrosis and microcalcification levels were assessed in the evaluation of testicular histology. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

AMX-AD group has low necrosis degree than IR, Mean serum and tissue levels of TAS, TOS, and OSI parameters were respectively determined as; for TAS: 0.64 ± 0.11 and 0.96 ± 0.25 mmol Trolox Equivalent/L; for TOS: 6.71 ± 0.87 and 9.40 ± 1.03 μmol H₂O₂ equivalent/L; for OSI: 11.94 ± 3.74 and 10.70 ± 4.23 arbitrary unit.

DISCUSSION

Our study has investigated for the first time in the literature the efficacy of amniotic fluid in preventing testicular IR damage, and used amniomax (AMX) for this purpose. The limitation of our study may be the small number of rat in the groups.

CONCLUSION

We think an injection after detorsion is more favorable considering that the AMX-AD group demonstrated significantly lower levels of TOS in serum and tissue and OSI in serum, and significantly higher serum levels of TAS compared to the AMX-BD group, as well as the fact that the morphological protection effect was only observed for injections performed immediately after detorsion.

Dose dependent effect of cilostazol in induced testicular ischemia reperfusion via modulation of HIF/VEGF and cAMP/SIRT1 pathways

Twisting of the spermatic cord is a common dangerous health problem that may be accompanied with testicular necrosis and infertility. Cilostazol (CLZ) is a selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3A inhibitor used for treatment of intermittent claudication. It has a great role in myocardial, spinal cord and hepatic ischaemia/reperfusion. However, till now, there are no researches evaluating its role in testicular ischaemia/reperfusion (TIR). The current work studies its capability to improve TIR induced injury with more concentration on the mechanisms involved in such effect. Four groups of animals were included: sham, TIR induced group, TIR plus CLZ low dose (10 mg/kg), TIR plus CLZ high dose (30 mg/kg). Our results proved that TIR had significant decrease of the serum ELISA of testosterone, marked disturbances in oxidative stress evaluated parameters as malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), ELISA measurement of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin 1 beta (IL1β) inflammatory mediators, apoptotic marker (caspase3) using western blotting, immunohistochemistry of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). TIR reduced the protective agents as cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) by ELISA method with marked germinal cell apoptosis. The biochemical results were confirmed by the histopathological findings that showed marked decrease in both Johnsen's score and Cosentino's score. However, treatment with CLZ significantly reversed the profound TIR damaging effects, on the basis of its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-apoptotic activities with recuperation of the testicular vascularity. Modulation of HIF/VEGF and cAMP/SIRT1 pathways showed a great role in mediating such effect.