Experimental testicular torsion: Reperfusion blood flow and subsequent testicular venous plasma testosterone concentrations

These results demonstrate that the minimal duration and degree of torsion known to cause loss of spermatogenesis in the rat also causes a significant reduction in testicular androgen production in the long term. This effect was inversely related to the reperfusion values immediately after torsion repair. This suggests that reperfusion/oxidative stress may play a role in Leydig cell dysfunction, as well as by acting directly in germ cell apoptosis.