Treatment with estrogen receptor agonist ERβ improves torsion-induced oxidative testis injury in rats.

Aims: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the potential antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and sperm function-preserving effects of estrogen, estrogen receptor (ER)α and ERβ agonists in a rat model of testis torsion-detorsion (T/D).

Main Methods: Under anesthesia, 6-8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent sham-operation or testicular torsion by fixing left testis rotated at 720° for 2 h. After detorsion, rats were treated with ERα agonist (1 mg/kg/day, subcutaneously, sc) or ERβ agonist (1 mg/kg/day, sc) or estradiol (E, 1 mg/kg/day, in drinking water) or vehicle on the following two days.