Involvement of the bax and bcl-2 system in the induction of germ cell apoptosis is correlated with the time of reperfusion after testicular ischemia in a rat model

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between time of reperfusion and bax/bcl-2–dependent germ cell apoptosis after testicular ischemia–reperfusion injury in the rat. In ischemic testis, bax/bcl-2 ratio did not change significantly, and the elevation of germ cell apoptosis was not marked; in the contralateral testis, germ cell apoptosis increased after 6 hours of reperfusion, achieved statistical significance after 24 hours, and decreased after 72 hours of reperfusion and was initiated by decreased bcl-2 messenger RNA levels and elevated bax/bcl-2 ratio within the first 6 hours of reperfusion.