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 i psilateral and contralateral testes in individual or associated presences o f 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 ep ididymis from testis, abdominal placement of the testis, abdominal placemen t 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. Relativ e proportions of haploid, diploid and tetraploid cells were determined by D NA flow cytometry. MSTD, MTBS and the proportions of haploid cells were com pared through one-way analysis of variance. Results: While vas deferens ligation has diminished MSTD only in the contra lateral testes, abdominal testis and detachment of epididymis have diminish ed MSTD in both ipsilateral and contralateral testes. MTBS were depressed o nly in the ipsilateral testes in groups of abdominal testis, vas deferens l igation and detachment of epdidymis. However, ratios of haploid DNA were de pressed in both ipsilateral and contralateral testes. Abdominal testis toge ther with vas ligation or detachment of epididymis has further depressed th e 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 da mages encountered within the ipsilateral and contralateral testes. Copyrigh t (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Baser.