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
Nivel de evidencia: BAJA- Diseño del estudio
- Preclínico (modelo animal)
- Tamaño de muestra
- —
- Población
- Animal model — testicular damage induced by testosterone administration in rats
- Intervención
- Hirudo medicinalis leech therapy
- Comparador
- Untreated testosterone-damaged controls
- Resultado primario
- Testicular histology, oxidative stress markers, sperm parameters
- Resultado
- Leech therapy attenuated testicular oxidative damage and improved histological recovery vs untreated controls
- Notas
- Preclinical animal data; mechanism-supportive, no direct clinical translation. Cited from PubMed.
Resumen: 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.
Resumen
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.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio examinテウ si la terapia con sanguijuelas atenテコa la lesiテウn de isquemia/reperfusiテウn testicular utilizando un modelo de torsiテウn/detorsiテウn en ratas, evaluando parテ。metros espermテ。ticos, biomarcadores de estrテゥs oxidativo, cambios histopatolテウgicos y expresiテウn de proteテュnas relacionadas con la apoptosis. Es relevante para la hirudoterapia y el secretoma salivar de la sanguijuela porque explora cテウmo los componentes antiinflamatorios, anticoagulantes, antioxidantes y antimicrobianos atribuidos a la saliva de la sanguijuela pueden contrarrestar el daテアo oxidativo y la apoptosis en tejido isquテゥmico. Los hallazgos reportados indican que el grupo tratado mostrテウ una mejor motilidad y morfologテュa espermテ。tica, niveles reducidos de MDA, niveles aumentados de enzimas antioxidantes y cambios en la expresiテウn de Bax/Bcl-2/Caspase-3 consistentes con una apoptosis reducida. Sin embargo, se trata de un modelo animal y el resumen no especifica la especie de sanguijuela ni si se aplicaron sanguijuelas vivas o preparaciones salivares, por lo que la relevancia para la hirudoterapia clテュnica en humanos sigue siendo indirecta y requiere mayor investigaciテウn.
Citación
Leech therapy (Hirudo medicinalis) attenuates testicular damages induced by testicular ischemia/reperfusion in an animal model.
Davoodi F et al. · BMC veterinary research, 2021
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: March 18, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026