A PLATELET-ACTIVATING FACTORS ANTAGONIST ATTENUATES THE EFFECTS OF TESTICULAR ISCHEMIA

Purpose: Platelet activating factor, a biochemical marker and lipid me diator of ischemic injury, has been demonstrated in several organ syst ems, The objective of this study was to investigate the possible role of platelet activating factor in testicular ischemic injury. Materials and Methods: Five groups of 6 male Sprague-Dawley rats were studied, including group l-nonoperated controls, group 2-sham operated controls , group 3-those that underwent administration of 10 mu g./kg. exogenou s platelet activating factor into the left testicular artery, group 4 - those that underwent 4 hours of testicular ischemia and group 5 - th ose that received pretreatment with 0.4 mg./kg. of the platelet activa ting factor antagonist CV-6209 intravenously before 4 hours of testicu lar ischemia. Ipsilateral and contralateral testes were examined histo logically and seminiferous tubular diameters were measured. Results: E xogenous platelet activating factor administration in group 3 and 4 ho urs of ischemia in group 4 resulted in a similar extent of histologica l degeneration of the experimental testicle, Pretreatment with CV-6209 in group 5 resulted in a marked decrease in hemorrhagic discoloration , vascular congestion and histological changes noted with ischemia in group 4. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that platelet activating factor has a biochemical role in tissue injury associated w ith testicular ischemia. Also, administration of a platelet activating factor antagonist before the ischemic event decreases seminiferous tu bule degeneration.