Assessment of testicular function in experimental varicocele rats by phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy

To assess testicular function in experimental varicocele rats, we used P-31 magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy and compared MR spectroscopic paramet ers with flow cytometric DNA analysis. In vivo P-31 MR spectroscopy and flo w cytometric DNA analysis of testes were performed in 10 sham-operated and 9 induced varicocele rats. Although the testicular phosphomonoester (PM)/AT P ratio did not differ between sham-operated and induced varicocele rats, t he phosphodiester (PD)/ATP ratio was significantly reduced and the inorgani c phosphate (Pi)/ATP ratio was significantly increased in induced varicocel e rats. There was no difference between the right and left sides. DNA flow cytometry showed a decrease in the percentage of haploid cells in induced v aricocele rats, regardless of the side. This study indicates that in vivo P -31 MR spectroscopy provides valuable information for assessment of testicu lar function.