Aim:To determine whether sulfasalazine can prevent apoptosis in spermatogeniccells by preventing the activation of NF-κB in spermatogenic epithelium in experi-mental testicular torsion.Methods:Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley ratswere subjected to unilateral 720° testicular torsion for durations of 0h and 2h,then the torsion was relieved.The ischemic/reperfused testes were collected forthe detection of NF-κB expression with Western blotting and immunohistochem-istry techniques,and detection of apoptosis with TUNEL techniques.Results:The NF-κB coefficient of spermatogenic epithelium and the apoptosis index ofspermatogenic cells were significantly different in the operation and the sham-operation groups after experimental testicular torsion (P<0.01).Conclusion:NF-κB activation of spermatogenic epithelium is related to apoptosis of spermatoge-nic cells.Sulfasalazine can prevent apoptosis in spermatogenic cells after theexperimental testicular torsion through prevention of NF-κB activation. Aim: To determine whether sulfasalazine can prevent apoptosis in spermatogenic cells by preventing the activation of NF-κB in spermatogenic epithelium in experi-mental testicular torsion. Methods: Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to unilateral 720 ° testicular torsion for durations of 0h and 2h, then the torsion was relieved. Ischemic / reperfused testes were collected forthe detection of NF-κB expression with Western blotting and immunohistochem-istry techniques, and detection of apoptosis with TUNEL techniques. Results: The NF-κB coefficient of spermatogenic epithelium and the apoptosis index ofsmatogenic cells were significantly different in the operation and the sham-operation groups after experimental testicular torsion (P <0.01) .Conclusion: NF-κB activation of spermatogenic epithelium is related to apoptosis of spermatogenetic-nic cells.Sulfasalazine can prevent apoptosis in spermatogenic cells after the experimental testicular torsion through prevention of NF-κB activation.