EFFECTS OF HIGH-ENERGY SHOCK-WAVES ON TESTES OF WISTAR RATS

The effects of high-energy shock wave (HESW) on testes are still unkno wn. We investigated Wistar rats at 3 months of age for morphologic and functional changes in the testes and in serum follicle-stimulating ho rmone (FSH), progesterone (Prog), and testosterone (T). In an initial study, 12 rats received 1000 shocks at 19 kV directed at their testes using the JDPN-IV lithotripter. Two animals were sacrificed, and their testes were step-sectioned for light and electron microscopic examina tion on the operation day and on postoperation days one, two, four, ei ght, and sixty. There was angiectasis and congestion (58%) and focal h emorrhage (42%) in the testicular tissue, as well as mitochondrial swe lling, reduction or disappearance of mitochondrial cristae (42%), and degranulation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (33%) in spermatocyte s. In the definitive study, groups of 10 rats were exposed to the same power index directed at their testes. One week after this exposure in Group 1 and at 3 and 6 weeks in Group 2, the animals were allowed to mate (one male paired with two females). There was no statistically si gnificant difference in pregnancy rate or fetal number and weight in t he female rats mated with the two groups of treated males at 3 weeks' gestation or in serum FSH, Prog, and T, or compared with the control g roup. Although there were temporary histologic changes in testicular t issue, the rat testes appeared to be functionally resistant to the sho ck wave energy levels used in this experiment.