Activation of Akt/protein kinase B and extracellular signal-regulated kinase in rats with acute experimental testicular torsion

The Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways are involved in cell survival. This study examined the temporal profiles and localization of Akt/PKB and ERK1/2 activation in rat testis after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Testicular tissue was collected from normal control rats and rats exposed to reperfusion for 6, 24, and 48 hr after ischemic injury; the tissues were analyzed via Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Western blot analysis showed that the levels of phosphorylated Akt/PKB (pAkt/PKB) and ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) increased significantly during the first 6-24 hr of reperfusion after ischemia. However, both of these activated proteins were decreased slightly at 48 hr after reperfusion. Immunohistochemically, low levels of pAkt/PKB expression were observed in Sertoli cells from the normal control. After I/R, pAkt/PKB expression increased mainly in the adluminal portion of the Sertoli cells, as well as in spermatogenic cells. In addition, pERK1/2 expression was observed in Sertoli and Leydig cells in the normal control. After I/R, pERK1/2 expression increased in some surviving spermatogenic cells (mainly spermatocytes), as well as in the adluminal portion of Sertoli cells. These results suggest that both Akt/PKB and ERK1/2 are involved in the survival of testicular cells during the early phase of testicular I/R. These pathways may represent important targets for increasing cell survival in testicular injury, including testicular torsion.