Effects of ultrasound contrast agents upon rabbit testicular complete torsion-detorsion under the diagnostic ultrasound radiation

Objective To explore the ultrasound contrast agent (SonoVue) effects upon rabbit testis which were injured after the acute unilateral complete torsion-detorsion and its related mechanisms,on the condition of the diagnostic ultrasound radiation with different doses and different imaging modes.Methods 35 healthy New Zealand white adult rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups(S,A,B,C,and D),with 7 in each group.Left testis needed ischemia reperfusion after complete 3 hours.Group S:reperfusion without SonoVue group;group A:small-dose (0.1 ml/kg) SonoVue conventional imaging group;group B:high-dose (1 ml/kg) SonoVue conventional imaging group ; group C:small-dose (0.1 ml/kg) SonoVue blasting group; group D:high dose(1 ml/kg) SonoVue blasting group.Groups needed ultrasonic imaging before operation and 24 hour reperfusion.The changes for each group's contrast parameters were analyzed.The contents of malondialdehyde(MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) of testicular tissue were detected,and the expressions of Caspase 3 were examined after 24 hours to make a comparison study among these groups.Results In group D,the time to peak(TTP) and half of declining time(DT/2) were significantly prolonged (P ＜ 0.05),peak-base indensity (PBD) was significantly descended (P ＜ 0.05),and the time-intensity curve manifested that the peak was lower and delayed.SOD in C was lower slightly than in group S.Compared with other groups,SOD in group D decreased,and MDA increased (P ＜ 0.05).Under light microscope,the Johnen's scores in groups A,B,C showed no difference with group S2 (P ＞0.05),while were lower compared with group D (P ＜0.05).Compared with others groups,apoptosis index(AI) and Caspase-3 in group D increased with significance (P ＜0.05).Conclusions Under the diagnostic ultrasound radiation,when conventional imaging and small-does imaging blasted,they did not aggravate the ischemia testicular,while for high-dose,it aggravated. Key words: Ultrasonography; Microbubbles; Spermatic cord torsion; Testis; Apoptosis