Exosomes obtained from adipose mesenchymal stem cells prevent ischemia-reperfusion injury after torsion-detorsion in rat testes.

Abstract

To investigate the effect of exosomes obtainedfrom adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) on testicular ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. AD-MSCs from rat adipose tissue were cultured. Characterization of cells was evaluated with CD44, CD90, CD34 and CD45 antibodies. Exosomes from AD-MSCs were obtained with the miRCURYexosomeisolation kit. 21 rats were divided into 3 groups. The I/R model was created as 720° torsion for 4h and reperfusion for 4h. In the Sham group (SG), only scrotal incision was made. 100µl of medium in the torsion-control group (T-CG) and 100µl of exosome in the treatment group (TG) were injected into the testicular parenchyma after detorsion. Johnsen scores of testicles were determined. Apoptosis was evaluated by the TUNEL method. It was observed that the seminiferous tubule structures were partially disrupted in T-CG, but normal in SG and TG. Johnsen scores in SG, T-CG, and TG were 8.64 ± 0.39, 7.71 ± 0.37, and 8.57 ± 0.39, respectively. Apoptotic cell distribution was 11.28 ± 5.25%, 60.58% ± 1.68% and 17.71 ± 8.34% in SG, T-CG and TG, respectively. In both parameters, the difference between SG and TG was insignificant (p > 0.05), the difference between T-CG/TG and SG/T-CG was significant (p < 0.05). Exosomes obtainedfromAD-MSCs are effective in preventing testicular I/R injury. This effect appears to occur because of suppression of apoptotic activity.