Effect of Cortexin administration on Kisspeptin and Spexin expression after testicular torsion

Kisspeptin–1 (KISS–1) and Spexin (SPX) are neuropeptides that play crucial roles in metabolism and sexual function, with their expression levels in tissues potentially influenced by antioxidant treatments. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cortexin treatment against ischemia–reperfusion injury (I/R) resulting from testicular torsion on KISS–1 and SPX levels in testicular tissues. Twenty–eight male Sprague–Dawley, rats, aged 8–10 weeks, were divided into four equal groups: control, torsion, torsion/ detorsion, and torsion/detorsion+cortexin. At the conclusion of the experiment, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to assess the expressions of KISS–1, SPX, tumor necrosis factor–alpha (TNF–α), and Caspase–3 in the testicular tissues. For biochemical analyses, total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) levels were measured in serum samples using the ELISA method, while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were assessed spectrophotometrically in testicular tissues. The results showed that compared to the control group, the torsion and torsion/detorsion groups exhibited significant histopathological damage, along with increased levels of MDA, TOS, Caspase–3, and TNF–α, and decreased levels of TAS, KISS–1, and SPX in the testicular tissues. Conversely, in the torsion+detorsion+cortexin group, which received treatment for reperfusion injury, there was a notable reduction in tissue damage, with decreased levels of MDA, TOS, caspase–3, and TNF–α, alongside increased levels of TAS, KISS, and SPX. Cortexin decreases testicular damage by reducing oxidative stress, increases spermatogenesis by improving seminiferous tubule and germinal epithelial thickness, and regulates KISS–1 and SPX expression, which have effects on the reproductive system.