Rosuvastatin Prevents No-Reflow Phenomenon Due to Detorsion of Testicular Torsion

Abstract

PURPOSE Treatment of testicular torsion by detorsion may further damage the testis due to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. After reestablishment of blood flow, the blood flow diminishes after a while, which is called as the no-reflow phenomenon. Rosuvastatin, a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, has “pleiotropic” vasculoprotective effects that include anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This study was designed to determine the effect of rosuvastatin pretreatment on the I/R injury induced no-reflow phenomenon encountered after detorsion of testicular torsion. MATERIAL AND METHODS Wistar albino rats were used in the study. Blood flow of testis were measured before the torsion (baseline value), before the detorsion and 1 hour after detorsion using Laser Doppler flowmetry. Rats were divided into three groups. Sham group (n = 5): Basal blood flow, flow before detorsion, and flow after detorsion of the testis was determined. Torsion/detorsion group (n = 8): After 2 hours torsion of the testis, blood flow before and after detorsion was determined. Torsion/detorsion + rosuvastatin group (n = 8): After measurement of the basal blood flow, Rosuvastatin (10 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 30 minutes before the detorsion of 2 hour torsion and blood flow before and after detorsion was determined. RESULTS There was no significant difference between the the baseline blood flow values of the groups. Blood flow decreased significantly after the torsion. One hour after the detorsion, mean blood flow of the torsion/detorsion + Rosuvastatin group was found significantly higher than the torsion/detorsion group. CONCLUSIONS Pretreatment with Rosuvastatin before detorsion prevents reperfusion injury induced no-reflow phenomenon after detorsion of testicular torsion.