ArticleBMC veterinary research2021
Leech therapy (Hirudo medicinalis) attenuates testicular damages induced by testicular ischemia/reperfusion in an animal model.
Article in BMC veterinary research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effects of Iloprost on TRPM7-Mediated Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress in an Experimental Testicular Torsion-Detorsion Model.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Efficacy and Safety of Hirudotherapy for Improving Sperm Quality Parameters in Male Infertility: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Health science reports · 2026Article
- HMG-CoA reductase inhibition preserves testicular function after torsion/detorsion by modulating oxidative stress and AKT signaling.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Right-sided cryptorchidism and contralateral intrascrotal testicular torsion in a young dog: a rare case report.Veterinary research communications · 2025Article
- Eucalyptol attenuates testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.Veterinary research forum : an international quarterly journal · 2025Article
- Pathophysiology and management of testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury: Lessons from animal models.Heliyon · 2024Review
- HO-1 attenuates testicular ischaemia/reperfusion injury by activating the phosphorylated C-jun-miR-221/222-TOX pathway.Heliyon · 2024Article
- Evaluation of testicular torsion management in Ogbomoso, South-Western Nigeria and surgical detorsion-augmented treatment with phytochemical fractions ofSaudi journal of biological sciences · 2023Article
- Rosmarinic acid prevents post-operative abdominal adhesions in a rat model.Scientific reports · 2022Article
- Article
- Testicular torsions in veterinary medicine.Veterinary research communications · 2022Review
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTesticular torsion/detorsion triggers tissue ischemia/reperfusion, leading to reactive oxygen species overgeneration and apoptosis. The saliva of leeches is full of anti-inflammatory, anticoagulants, antioxidants, and antimicrobial agents. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the protective mechanism of leech therapy on testicular ischemia/reperfusion damage.
methods18 adult male rats were randomly divided into three groups: 1-Sham-operated group (SO). 2-Torsion/detorsion (T.D) group: two hours of testicular torsion with two hours of testicular detorsion was performed. 3-Torsion/detorsion + Leech therapy (TDL) group. Sperm parameters (motility, vitality, morphology, and concentration), oxidative stress biomarkers (MDA, CAT, GPx, and TAC), histopathological factors (Mean seminiferous tubular diameter, Germinal epithelial cell thickness, Testicular capsule thickness, Johnson's score, and Cosentino's score), and immunohistochemical markers for apoptosis detection (Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3) were measured.
resultsThere was a significant difference for all sperm parameters in the T. D group compared to the sham group. Leech therapy significantly increased progressive motility and normal morphology and reduced non-progressive motility. In the TDL group, MDA concentration significantly reduced, and levels of GPx, TAC, and CAT remarkably increased. All evaluated histopathological parameters in the TDL group significantly increased compared to the T. D group except for the testicular capsule thickness. T. D notably increased the expression of Bax and Caspase-3, while the treatment group slowed the rate of apoptosis compared to the control group. Bcl-2 expression in the T. D group was significantly lower than that in the sham group. Leech therapy increased the Bcl-2 expression.
conclusionLeech therapy attenuates damages to testicular tissue following torsion/detorsion due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects. Hence, it can be considered as an effective remedy for testicular ischemia/reperfusion.
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