The diagnostic role of testicular fatty acid-binding protein in testicular ischemia: A randomized controlled experimental study.

To investigate the diagnostic value of testicular fatty acid-binding protein (T-FABP) in acute testicular ischemia and prolonged ischemia. METHODS: The study included a total of 28 prepubertal male Wistar-Hannover rats. The animals were randomly divided into 4 groups as torsion groups (group I; min 30; 7 rats, group II; min 120; 7 rats, group III; min 240; 7 rats) and control group (group IV; 7 rats). In each group, the left testis was separated from the gubernaculum by blunt dissection together with the tunica vaginalis and spermatic cord, and then exposed. In the control group, the blood samples and left testicular tissues were collected at min 240 after extraction. In torsion groups, the left testis was rotated together with its cord elements,720° in a clockwise direction for the induction of an extravaginal TT model. The blood samples were obtained at min 30, 120, and 240 in the torsion groups. Bilateral testicular tissues were collected via orchiectomy for histopathological examination in all groups. RESULTS: The mean plasma T-FABP level in group III (torsion, min 240) was significantly higher than those of other groups. The T-FABP level at min 240 had a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 85%, respectively, at a cut-off value of 1.059. A significant difference was found between the torsion groups and the control group with regard to histopathological scores. CONCLUSIONS: The increased T-FABP levels in testicular ischemia seem to be correlated with testicular necrosis rather than acute ischemia.