Effects of abdominal location and epididymal or vasal obstructions either individually or in association on ipsilateral and contralateral testes. A histologic and DNA flow cytometric analyses.

OBJECTIVE

An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the damages in ipsilateral and contralateral testes in individual or associated presences of abdominal location and vasal or epididymal obstructions.

METHODS

Six groups each consisting of 8 rats were established. The groups included sham operation, ligation of the vas deferens, detachment of the epididymis from testis, abdominal placement of the testis, abdominal placement of the testis with vas deferens ligation, and abdominal placement of the testis with detachment of epididymis from testis. After 30 days, bilateral orchidectomy was performed. Mean seminiferous tubular diameters (MSTD) and mean testicular biopsy scores (MTBS) were obtained for each testis. Relative proportions of haploid, diploid and tetraploid cells were determined by DNA flow cytometry. MSTD, MTBS and the proportions of haploid cells were compared through one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTS

While vas deferens ligation has diminished MSTD only in the contralateral testes, abdominal testis and detachment of epididymis have diminished MSTD in both ipsilateral and contralateral testes. MTBS were depressed only in the ipsilateral testes in groups of abdominal testis, vas deferens ligation and detachment of epdidymis. However, ratios of haploid DNA were depressed in both ipsilateral and contralateral testes. Abdominal testis together with vas ligation or detachment of epididymis has further depressed the ratios of haploid DNA in both ipsilateral and contralateral testes.

CONCLUSION

Compared to their individual presence, the associated presence of abdominal testis and vasal or epididymal obstructions may augment the damages encountered within the ipsilateral and contralateral testes.