Capsaicin in albino rats prevents contralateral testis from the damaging effects posed by ipsilateral testis that underwent torsion

Objective:To evaluate the effect of capsaicin, a powerful neurotoxin select ive to afferent nerves, on contralateral testicular damage in ipsilateral t esticular torsion. Methods: Forty male albino rats were randomly allocated into five groups. N o operation was performed in group one. After intraperitoneal administratio n of 0.9% NaCl, rats underwent a sham operation in group 2 and testicular t orsion in group 3. In groups 4 and 5 rats underwent sham operation and test icular torsion, respectively after intraoperitoneal capsaicin injection. Co ntralateral testes were harvested on the fifteenth day of the experiment an d mean seminiferous tubular diameters and mean testicular biopsy scores wer e recorded for each testis. The values were compared through analysis of va riance (ANOVA) with Turkey-Kramer multiple comparisons test and p values le ss than 0.05 were considered to be significant. Results: Mean testicular biopsy scores and mean seminiferous tubular diamet ers of group 5 was significantly higher than the group 3. There was no diff erence between the groups 1, 2, 4, and 5 when these two parameters are conc erned. Conclusion: Capsaicin effectively prevents contralateral testicular damage encountered following ipsilateral testicular torsion. The inhibition of aff erent impulses from the ipsilateral testis under distress prevents contrala teral testicular injury, and provides additional data to support the role o f an autonomic reflex arc in contralateral testicular injury. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.