Leech therapy (Hirudo medicinalis) attenuates testicular damages induced by testicular ischemia/reperfusion in an animal model
Basic science / preclinical published in BMC veterinary research (2021)
Hirudopedia
Evidence grade: LOW- Study design
- Preclinical (animal model)
- Sample size
- —
- Population
- Animal model — testicular damage induced by testosterone administration in rats
- Intervention
- Hirudo medicinalis leech therapy
- Comparator
- Untreated testosterone-damaged controls
- Primary outcome
- Testicular histology, oxidative stress markers, sperm parameters
- Result
- Leech therapy attenuated testicular oxidative damage and improved histological recovery vs untreated controls
- Notes
- Preclinical animal data; mechanism-supportive, no direct clinical translation. Cited from PubMed.
Abstract: Preclinical model demonstrating attenuation of testosterone-induced testicular damage by Hirudo medicinalis treatment, suggesting anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory leech-secretome contribution.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Testicular 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. METHODS: 18 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. RESULTS: There 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. CONCLUSION: Leech 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.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Testicular 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.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This study examined whether leech therapy attenuates testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury using a rat torsion/detorsion model, evaluating sperm parameters, oxidative stress biomarkers, histopathological changes, and apoptosis-related protein expression. It is relevant to hirudotherapy and the leech salivary secretome because it explores how the anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antioxidant, and antimicrobial components attributed to leech saliva may counteract oxidative damage and apoptosis in ischemic tissue. The reported findings indicate that the treated group showed improved sperm motility and morphology, reduced MDA, increased antioxidant enzyme levels, and shifts in Bax/Bcl-2/Caspase-3 expression consistent with reduced apoptosis. However, this is an animal model and the abstract does not specify the leech species or whether live leeches or salivary preparations were applied, so the relevance to clinical hirudotherapy in humans remains indirect and requires further investigation.
Citation
Leech therapy (Hirudo medicinalis) attenuates testicular damages induced by testicular ischemia/reperfusion in an animal model.
Davoodi F et al. · BMC veterinary research, 2021
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