Preventive Effects of Cyclosporine A Combined With Prednisolone and Melatonin on Contralateral Testicular Damage After Ipsilateral Torsion-Detorsion in Pubertal and Adult Rats

PurposeWe compared the preventive effects of cyclosporine A combined with prednisolone and melatonin (Sigma-Aldrich®) on damage to the contralateral testis after ipsilateral testicular torsion-detorsion between pubertal and adult rats.Materials and MethodsWe divided pubertal and adult Sprague-Dawley® rats into groups 1—sham operation, 2—detorsion, 3—detorsion plus cyclosporine A with prednisolone and 4—detorsion plus melatonin. After 4 hours of ipsilateral testicular torsion we treated the rats with detorsion only or with detorsion plus drug depending on the group.ResultsSeminiferous tubule diameter and germ cell layer thickness were greater in pubertal group 3 and adult group 4 than at each age in group 2 (each p <0.05). The number of spermatids per tubule was greater in pubertal groups 3 and 4, and in adult group 4 than at each age in group 2 (each p <0.05). Of pubertal rats those in groups 3 and 4 had fewer TUNEL positive cells than group 2 (p = 0.061 and 0.057, respectively). Of adult rats the number of TUNEL positive cells was greater in group 3 and significantly lower in group 4 vs that in group 2 (p <0.05).ConclusionsThe preventive effects of cyclosporine A combined with prednisolone on contralateral testicular damage were noted only in pubertal rats while the preventive effects of melatonin were noted in pubertal and adult rats. Results suggest that damage to the contralateral testis induced by an immunological mechanism may be more significant during puberty than during adulthood.