The effect of the genitofemoral nerve division on the contralateral descended testis in the unilateral cryptorchidism model

It is widely accepted that there are degenerative changes and decreased spe rmatogenesis in the contralateral descended testis (CDT) in unilateral unde scended testis (UUDT). While some investigators have postulated that the me chanism may be related to primary (congenital) or secondary (autoimmune, va scular, and neural) events, the exact mechanism of the damage to the CDT is still unknown. The present study was planned to investigate the role of th e genitofemoral nerve (GFN) on the changes in the CDT. Forty male Wistar al bino rats were divided into four groups of 10 each. During the newborn peri od a UUDT model was created and at the age of 30 days ipsilateral GFN divis ion was done (group A). In addition, UUDT with intact GFN (group B), divide d right GFN with bilateral scrotal testes (group C), and control (group D) groups were formed. When the animals reached early adulthood, they were kil led and the testes were removed. Mean seminiferous-tubular diameter (STD) a nd germinal-ephitelium maturity was determined using modified Johnson testi cular biopsy scores (TBS). The mean STD and TBS of the study groups did not show any differences suggesting that ipsilateral division of the GFN has n o effect on the CDT in the UUDT model.