Capsaicin in albino rats prevents contralateral testis from the damaging effects posed by ipsilateral testis that underwent torsion.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of capsaicin, a powerful neurotoxin selective to afferent nerves, on contralateral testicular damage in ipsilateral testicular torsion. METHODS: Forty male albino rats were randomly allocated into five groups. No operation was performed in group one. After intraperitoneal administration of 0.9% NaCl, rats underwent a sham operation in group 2 and testicular torsion in group 3. In groups 4 and 5 rats underwent sham operation and testicular torsion, respectively after intraoperitoneal capsaicin injection. Contralateral testes were harvested on the fifteenth day of the experiment and mean seminiferous tubular diameters and mean testicular biopsy scores were recorded for each testis. The values were compared through analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Turkey-Kramer multiple comparisons test and p values less than 0.05 were considered to be significant. RESULTS: Mean testicular biopsy scores and mean seminiferous tubular diameters of group 5 was significantly higher than the group 3. There was no difference between the groups 1, 2, 4, and 5 when these two parameters are concerned. CONCLUSION: Capsaicin effectively prevents contralateral testicular damage encountered following ipsilateral testicular torsion. The inhibition of afferent impulses from the ipsilateral testis under distress prevents contralateral testicular injury, and provides additional data to support the role of an autonomic reflex arc in contralateral testicular injury.     

Pentoxifylline improves blood flow to both testes in testicular torsion

Objectives: Electromagnetic and radioisotopic studies have shown thatunilateral testicular torsion causes a decrease in contralateral testicularblood flow. Pentoxifylline improves microvascular blood flow in conditionsof vascular insufficiency. An experimental study was designed to evaluatethe effects of pentoxifylline (Ptx) on blood flow to both testes duringunilateral testicular torsion and detorsion.Materials and methods: Thirty-six adult male albino Wistar rats wererandomly divided into six groups where each consisted of six rats: group1: sham operation, group 2: sham operation with Ptx, group 3: torsion,group 4: torsion with Ptx, group 5: detorsion, group 6: detorsion with Ptx.After intraperitoneal administration of Ptx at a dose of 50 mg/kg 15minutes before torsion; right testes of the rats underwent 30 minutes oftorsion and 30 minutes of detorsion. Blood flows of both testes weremeasured during torsion and detorsion simultaneously by using ¹³³Xeclearance technique.Results: Unilateral testicular torsion caused decrease in bilateraltesticular blood flow. Pentoxifylline had no effect on testicular blood flowduring torsion. Detorsion caused a partially increase in blood flow toipsilateral (detorted) testis, but had no effect on contralateral (nontorted)testicular blood flow. Pentoxifylline administration during detorsionsignificantly increased blood flow to both testes.Conclusions: Testicular torsion is a pathological process that causesdecreased blood flow to both testes. Pentoxifylline improves blood flow toboth testes during detorsion in a rat model of testicular torsion. Furtherstudies are needed to evaluate the effects of pentoxifylline on testiculartorsion.     

Pentoxifylline attenuates reperfusion injury in testicular torsion

OBJECTIVES: An experimental study was designed to evaluate the effects of pentoxifylline (Ptx) on lipid peroxidation, and histopathology in both testes after unilateral testicular torsion and detorsion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of sham operation, sham operation with Ptx, torsion and detorsion, torsion and detorsion with Ptx. After intraperitoneal administration of Ptx at a dose of 50 mg/kg 15 min before torsion; right testes of the rats underwent 30 min of torsion and 30 min of detorsion. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were assayed and histopathological changes were evaluated in both testes of all groups. RESULTS: Unilateral testicular torsion and detorsion caused an increase in the MDA levels of both testes. Histopathological evaluation showed interstitial hemorrhage on the ipsilateral side. Pentoxifylline decreased MDA levels on both side, and attenuated interstitial injury on the ipsilateral side. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that pentoxifylline treatment attenuates reperfusion damage on both side, possibly with its effects on blood flow and neutrophils. However, further studies are necessary to evaluate the effects of pentoxifylline on testicular torsion.     

The protective effects of nitric oxide on the contralateral testis in prepubertal rats with unilateral testicular torsion

OBJECTIVE: To investigate histological changes in the contralateral testis of rats with unilateral testicular torsion and the protective effects of nitric oxide (NO) on possible damage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-eight prepubertal male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four equal groups. Group 1 underwent a sham operation of the right testis under general anaesthesia. Group 2 underwent a similar operation but the right testis was rotated 720 degrees clockwise for 6 h, maintained by fixing the testis to the scrotum, and saline infused during the procedure. Group 3 underwent similar torsion but L-arginine methyl ester (a precursor of NO) was infused during the procedure. In Group 4, NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester, a NO synthase inhibitor, was infused separately during the administration of L-arginine methyl ester and torsion. All the left (untwisted) testes were removed from rats 21 days after surgery and evaluated histologically, assessing seminiferous tubule diameter, loss of sperm and spermatids, loss of germ cell layers, disarray of germ cell layers, rupture of tubules, Leydig cell proliferation and reaction in the ruptured tubules, and oedema. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the indicators of histological damage between groups 2 and 4 and groups 1 and 3, except for the Leydig cell reaction in the ruptured tubules and oedema. The damage was significantly less in group 3 than in groups 2 and 4. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that long-term histopathological changes in the contralateral testes are important after unilateral testicular torsion and that NO has a protective effect on the contralateral testis.     

Protective role of erythropoietin during testicular torsion of the rats

Testicular torsion is an important clinical urgency. Similar mechanisms occurred after detorsion of the affected testis as in the ischemia reperfusion (I/R) damage. This study was designed to investigate the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) treatment after unilateral testicular torsion. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups. Group 1 underwent a sham operation of the right testis under general anesthesia. Group 2 was same as sham, and EPO (3,000 IU/kg) infused i.p., group 3 underwent a similar operation but the right testis was rotated 720° clockwise for 1 h, maintained by fixing the testis to the scrotum, and saline infused during the procedure. Group 4 underwent similar torsion but EPO was infused half an hour before the detorsion procedure, and in group 5, EPO was infused after detorsion procedure. Four hours after detorsion, ipsilateral and contralateral testes were taken out for evaluation. Treatment with EPO improved testicular structures in the ipsilateral testis but improvement was less in the contralateral testis histologically, but EPO treatment decreased germ cell apoptosis in both testes following testicular IR. TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and nitrite levels decreased after EPO treatment especially in the ipsilateral testis. We conclude that testicular I/R causes an increase in germ cell apoptosis both in the ipsilateral and contralateral testes. Eryhropoietin has antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects following testicular torsion.     

大鼠一侧睾丸扭转对侧睾丸改变的实验研究

目的 :研究一侧睾丸扭转 (UTT)后对侧睾丸组织学及生精细胞凋亡的改变 ,以明确UTT后对侧睾丸是否存在损伤。　方法 :SD雄性大鼠 6 0只 ,随机分为实验组 (n =4 8)及对照组 (n =12 )。实验组采用Turner方法建立左侧睾丸扭转模型 ,于扭转后 6h处死 4只 ,其余 4 4只再分为扭转睾丸复位及切除组 ,分别于术后 1d、1周、4周处死7～ 8只 ,取睾丸组织进行组织学及生精细胞凋亡的检测。　结果 :UTT复位后对侧睾丸组织学发生明显改变 ,生精细胞凋亡指数明显高于对照组 (P <0 .0 5 )。扭转睾丸切除后对侧睾丸变化不明显。　结论 :UTT可引起对侧睾丸损伤 ,其机制可能与再灌注有关 ,扭转睾丸切除可防止或减轻对侧睾丸的损伤     

Reperfusion injury after detorsion of unilateral testicular torsion

Summary Reperfusion injury has been well documented in organs other than testis. An experimental study was conducted to investigate reperfusion injury in testes via the biochemical changes after unilateral testicular torsion and detorsion. As unilateral testicular torsion and varicocele have been shown to affect contralateral testicular blood flow, reperfusion injury was studied in both testes. Given that testicular blood flow does not return after 720° testicular torsion lasting more than 3 h, the present study was conducted after 1 and 2 h of 720° torsion. Adult male albino rats were divided into seven groups each containing ten rats. One group served to determine the basal values of biochemical parameters, two groups were subjected to 1 and 2 h of unilateral testicular torsion respectively, two groups were subjected to detorsion following 1 and 2 h of torison respectively, and two groups underwent sham operations as a control. Levels of lactic acid, hypoxanthine and lipid peroxidation products were determined in testicular tissues. Values of these three parameters obtained from the sham operation control groups did not differ significantly from basal values (P>0.05). All three parameters were increased significantly in both ipsilateral and contralateral testes after unilateral testicular torsion when compared with basal values (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). Detorsion caused significant changes in lipid peroxidation products levels in ipsilateral but not in contralateral testes when compared with values obtained after torsion (P<0.01 and P>0.05, respectively). It is concluded that ipsilateral testicular torsion causes a decrease in perfusion not only in the ipsilateral but also in the contralateral testis. Additionally, detorsion following up to 2 h of 720° torsion causes reperfusion injury in ipsilateral but not in contralateral testis.     

Do experimentally induced ipsilateral testicular torsion, vas deferens obstruction, intra-abdominal testis or venous obstruction damage the contralateral testis through a common mechanism?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if various conditions affecting the ipsilateral testis which also damage the contralateral testis share a common pathway for their effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised five groups of 10 adult rats which underwent surgery to produce (on their left sides); group 1, a sham operation (control); group 2, testicular torsion; group 3, vas deferens obstruction; group 4, an intra-abdominal testis; and group 5, venous obstruction. The ipsilateral and contralateral testes were harvested 4 weeks after surgery. The relative proportions of haploid cells, the mean seminiferous tubular diameter (MSTD), mean testicular biopsy scores (MTBS), and lactate and hypoxanthine levels were determined and compared. RESULTS: The proportions of haploid cells in the ipsilateral and the contralateral testes of groups 2-5 were significantly lower than those of the corresponding testes of the control group. The MSTD and MTBS of the ipsilateral testes in groups 2-5 were also significantly lower than the ipsilateral testes of controls and the contralateral testes within the same groups. While the MSTD and MTBS of the contralateral testes of groups 1 and 5 were not significantly different, those of the contralateral testes of groups 2-4 were significantly less than that of group 1. The lactic acid and hypoxanthine levels of the ipsilateral and contralateral testes were significantly increased in groups 2 and 3. While only the hypoxanthine level of group 5 increased significantly, both variables were not significantly different between the ipsilateral testes of groups 1 and 4. CONCLUSIONS: These four treatments damaged both the ipsilateral and contralateral testes. As the lactic acid and hypoxanthine levels within the contralateral testis were greater than in the controls, testicular torsion and vas deferens obstruction seem to share a common pathway (which may be a reflex decrease in contralateral testicular blood flow) for their effects on the contralateral testis.     

FOXO1 targeting by capsaicin reduces tissue damage after testicular torsion

Testicular torsion‐related oxidative stress causes a sequential chain of DNA damage, lipid peroxidation and cell death that leads to the derangement in the sperm functions and infertility. Capsaicin that has been applied for pain relief and cancer prevention possesses antioxidant properties which can be exploited to confer cell survival under ischaemic testis damage. Wistar male rats weighing 150–200 g were randomly divided into four groups: (i) sham group (all procedures except torsion of testis), (ii) ischaemia group (TT group), (iii) three TT groups treated with different dose of capsaicin (TT + different doses of Cap) and (iv) three control groups treated with different doses of capsaicin (100, 500 and 1000 ug/ml). Capsaicin administration significantly decreased the expression of pro‐apoptotic factors and increased the expression of anti‐apoptotic factors. Likewise, the expression of FOXO1 is significantly increased by higher doses of the capsaicin. Histological assessment by H&E and TUNEL method also exhibited an improved testicular morphology and decreased apoptosis in testes. These results suggested clinical potential for capsaicin in treatment of testicular torsion by targeting FOXO1 and apoptotic pathways.     

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockade on apoptotic changes in contralateral testis following unilateral testicular torsion

Objectives  In this experimental study, our aim was to determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition and angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blockade affect the apoptotic changes in contralateral testis following unilateral testicular torsion (UTT). Methods  Study groups consisted of 30 adult male Wistar rats. The rats were randomly separated into five groups. Group 1 was maintained as control without manipulation. Group 2 underwent the sham operation. Torsion was created by rotating the left testis 720° clockwise for 4 h and maintained by fixing the testis to the scrotum in the other groups. Group 3 underwent torsion and detorsion, with saline administration after detorsion. In group 4, the same surgical procedure was done as in the detorsion group, but AT1 receptor blocker (losartan 30 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally for 60 min before detorsion. In group 5, the same surgical procedure was done as in the detorsion group, but ACE inhibitor (lisinopril 50 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally for 60 min before detorsion. Bilateral testes were removed from each rat 24 h after surgery. Apoptosis was assessed in paraffin-embedded sections stained for TUNEL method. Reticulum staining was performed to evaluate the extracellular changes semiquantitatively. Testicular biopsy score counts were performed on these sections according to Johnsen. Results  The mean apoptotic scores of group 1, group 2 and group 3 were significantly higher than that of the other groups. There was no difference between the apoptotic scores of groups 1, 2, 4 and 5. Reticulum stain was increased in group 3 as compared to other groups. The mean Johnsen biopsy score of group 3 was significantly lower than that of the other groups. Conclusion  ACE inhibition and AT1 receptor blockade reduced the tubular damage and apoptosis in the contralateral testes after UTT. The beneficial effect of these drugs may arise from inhibition of ischemic process resulting from increased sympathetic activity and elimination of insults subsequent to dysregulation of RAS. These results suggest that ACE inhibitors and AT1 receptor blockers may be of potential value in patients with UTT.     

The role of nitric oxide in testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury

PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury process in testes. METHODS: Fifty prepubertal male rats were divided into 5 groups each containing 10 rats. After 4-hour torsion and 4-hour detorsion, bilateral orchiectomies were performed for measurement of tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) level and histopathologic examination. The results were compared statistically. The groups were labeled as group 1, basal values of biochemical parameters in testes; group 2 (control group), torsion plus detorsion; group 3, torsion plus N-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) plus detorsion; group 4, torsion plus L-arginine plus detorsion; group 5, sham operation. RESULTS: The highest MDA values were determined in the L-arginin group in ipsilateral testes. Group 3 and group 4 were statistically different from control group. Histological examination showed that specimens from group 4 had a significantly (P < .05) greater histological injury than group 3, and contralateral testes showed normal testicular architecture in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that NO plays an important role in damaging the testis with I/R. Although inhibition of NO synthesis with L-NMMA significantly improves I/R injury in testes, enhancing NO production by providing excess of L-arginine increases such damage. In the early periods of detorsion, there is no damage to contralateral testes after unilateral testicular torsion.     

Antiapoptotic effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on testicular torsion/detorsion in rats

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on apoptosis of testicular germ cells after repair of testicular torsion in rats. Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups, with six rats in each group: sham operation, torsion/detorsion (T/D), T/D + vehicle, and T/D + DHEA. Three hours before detorsion, 50 mg kg(-1) DHEA was given intraperitoneally to T/D + DHEA group. In all groups, bilateral orchiectomies were performed and both testicles were histologically examined, with apoptosis detected using the in situ DNA fragmentation [terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL)] system, with morphological damage detected using a four-level grading scale in each specimen. The testes of the sham group showed a normal histology. In T/D and T/D + vehicle groups, apoptotic spermatogonia and spermatocyte number were significantly higher than in the sham group (P < 0.01 for all). The T/D + DHEA group showed a reduction in apoptotic spermatocyte and spermatogonia number in seminiferous epithelia compared with T/D group (P < 0.01 for both). Apoptotic cell number of contralateral testes did not reveal any significant differences among these groups (P > 0.05). Specimens from T/D and T/D + vehicle had a significantly greater histological injury than sham and T/D + DHEA groups in the ipsilateral testes (P < 0.01 for both). Therefore, the results suggest that DHEA may be a protective agent for preventing apoptosis caused by testicular torsion.     

Protective effect of trapidil on long-term histologic damage in a rat model of testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury

Objectives  Trapidil is an antianginal compound with a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities. In recent years, it has been used successfully to decrease ischemia-reperfusion injury in several organ systems. We evaluated the effect of trapidil on the long-term histologic damage in testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods  Adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups of six rats each. One group underwent 2 h of testicular torsion; one received pretreatment with trapidil before detorsion; and one group underwent sham operation. All rats underwent bilateral orchiectomy 60 days after the experiment. The mean seminiferous tubular diameter, germinal epithelial cell thickness, and mean testicular biopsy score were determined by histological examination of each testis. Results  Testicular torsion–detorsion caused a significant decrease in the mean seminiferous tubular diameter, germinal epithelial cell thickness, and mean testicular biopsy score in the ipsilateral testes, but not in the contralateral testes. The animals treated with trapidil had a significant increase in these histological parameters as compared to the torsion–detorsion group. Conclusion  Trapidil administration before reperfusion may have the potential to decrease the long-term histologic damage that occurs after experimental testicular torsion. Trapidil is used as an antianginal drug and additional clinical studies are required to elucidate the protective role of trapidil in patients with testicular torsion.     

Noradrenaline and nitrite-nitrate concentrations in the contralateral testes during ipsilateral spermatic cord torsion in the presence or absence of a testis and epididymis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes occurring during ipsilateral spermatic cord torsion either in the presence or absence of the ipsilateral testis and epididymis, by evaluating noradrenaline and nitrite-nitrate concentrations in the contralateral testes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male albino rats were allocated randomly to one of four equal groups undergoing: group 1, a sham operation; group 2, ipsilateral spermatic cord torsion; group 3, epididymo-orchidectomy only; and group 4, spermatic cord torsion after epididymo-orchidectomy. The contralateral testes were harvested after 24 h and the noradrenaline and nitrite-nitrate contents determined. The levels in each group were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-tests. RESULTS: The noradrenaline content of testes from group 2 was significantly lower than in those of groups 1 and 3, but there were no significant differences in content between groups 1 and 3, 1 and 4, and 2 and 4. The content in group 4 was significantly less than that in group 3. There were no significant differences in nitrite-nitrate contents among any of the groups. CONCLUSION: Spermatic cord torsion for 24 h, either in the presence or absence of a testis and epididymis, significantly decreased the noradrenaline content in the contralateral testis. This finding supports the suggestion that the sympathetic system is activated by exposure to noradrenaline in the contralateral testis during ipsilateral spermatic cord torsion, with no dependency on the presence of a testis and epididymis. As the nitrite-nitrate concentrations were unaffected, nitric oxide seems to have no role in contralateral testicular deterioration.     

The preventive effects of thiopental and propofol on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND: Testicular torsion is a urological emergency that requires immediate surgical intervention to prevent testicular damage. The aim of the study was to investigate the preventive effects of thiopental and propofol as anesthetics on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Forty male Wistar Albino rats were randomly assigned to four groups of 10 rats each. During 5 h, anesthesia was induced and maintained with thiopental in groups 1 and 2 and with propofol in groups 3 and 4. Groups 2 and 4 received left testicular ischemia (torsion) during 1 h and reperfusion (detorsion) during 4 h. Groups 1 and 3 (control groups) had no testicular torsion and detorsion. At the end of 5 h, animals were killed and both ipsilateral and contralateral testes were removed for histopathologic examination and measurement of tissue MDA (malondialdehyde) and NO (nitric oxide) levels. RESULTS: In the contralateral testes of all the groups, MDA and NO measurements were not different from ipsilateral testes of the control groups. Between the groups 1 and 3, there were no differences in MDA and NO levels. Although torsion/detorsion of testes in group 4 caused significantly increased levels of tissue MDA and NO values compared with group 3, ischemia-reperfusion in group 2 caused a further increase in these levels compared with group 4. The ipsilateral testes in the control groups did not show any morphological changes. Testicular torsion/detorsion in rats with thiopental anesthesia (group 2) caused significantly greater histopathologic injury levels than rats with propofol anesthesia (group 4). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that propofol as an anesthetic agent may prevent testicular damage by scavenging reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and inhibiting lipid peroxidation in an animal model of testicular torsion and detorsion.     

Effect of insulin-like growth factor-1 on apoptosis of rat testicular germ cells induced by testicular torsion

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible protective role of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1, reported to have a protective effect in experimental models of hypoxic ischaemia), and the involvement of apoptotic cell death in a model of torsion/detorsion of the rat testis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of five rats each. Group 1 underwent a sham operation as a control; in group 2 the testis was twisted and in group 3 then untwisted; in group 4 IGF-1 was injected subcutaneously just before bilateral torsion, and then the right testis removed after 4 h and the left after 24 h; in group 5, IGF-1 was injected immediately after bilateral detorsion and then the testes removed as in group 4. Both testicles were examined histologically, with apoptosis detected using the in situ DNA fragmentation (TUNEL) system, with combined enzymology and immunohistochemistry techniques. RESULTS: In groups 2 (torsion) and 3 (detorsion), light microscopy of the testis showed some degenerative changes in the germ cells. Compared to group 1, apoptosis was more significant in group 3 than in the other groups. Group 4 (torsion/IGF-1) had a similar number of apoptotic germ cells as in group 2 (torsion) after 24 h, but fewer than the same group after 4 h. In group 5 (detorsion/IGF-1), apoptosis was reduced by IGF-1 significantly more than in group 3 (P < 0.05). Apoptosis was significantly less in spermatids in group 5 than in group 3 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: IGF-1 seems to lower the levels of germ cell apoptosis, which may be important for protecting the testes from torsion/detorsion injury. Further clinical studies are needed to evaluate this protective effect in testicular torsion/detorsion.     

The effects of chemical sympathectomy on testicular injury in varicocele

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the sympathetic nervous system plays a role in the contralateral testicular deterioration encountered in varicocele. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male Sprague-Dawley albino rats (28 days old) were divided equally into four treatment groups, i.e. (1) sham operation, (2) with varicocele, (3) treated by chemical sympathectomy plus varicocele, and (4) chemical sympathectomy only. Chemical sympathectomy was induced by administering intraperitoneal 6-OH dopamine (100 microg/g for 5 days) in groups 3 and 4; groups 1 and 2 received equal volumes of physiological saline by the same route. All rats underwent laparotomy and part of the left renal vein (distal to the spermatic vein confluence) was isolated and encircled with a 4/0 silk suture. The suture was left untied in group 2, and tied around a 24 F peripheral venous cannula in groups 3 and 4. The testes were then excised when the rats were 70 days old; malondialdehyde (MDA) in the testicular tissue was assayed by the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances method, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels were determined by spectrophotometric analysis. RESULTS: Varicocele resulted in a significant increase in MDA levels in both testes and chemical sympathectomy prevented this effect. SOD and GSH-Px values were significantly decreased in both testes in group 2; chemical sympathectomy also prevented this effect. CONCLUSION: An induced unilateral varicocele significantly increases the biochemical indicators of tissue hypoxia in both testes. As this increase was prevented by chemical sympathectomy, the sympathetic nervous system may play a role in the testicular degeneration associated with varicocele.     

An enigma: Contralateral effects of experimental unilateral testicular torsion

To investigate the effects of unilateral testicular torsion on both testes, we studied 4 groups of adult male New Zealand rabbits using sham operation, torsion and detorsion after one or eight hours and permanent torsion. Bilateral orchiectomy was performed 9 weeks after the operation, and testicular weights, Johnsen scores, quantitative analyses, tubular diameters were calculated and histopathologic diagnosis was determined. Testicular weights, Johnsen scores, spermatid counts and tubular diameters were all decreased in torsioned testes depending on the duration of torsion. The contralateral testes showed no significant change in any of the study groups when compared with the control group.     

【原创论文】同侧和对侧大鼠睾丸缺血再灌注损伤的生化效应和褪黑激素对此的保护作用

睾丸扭转（TT）,是一个多发于青春期男性的泌尿急症,如果不及时治疗,可致不孕不育。睾丸扭转所致缺血再灌注（I／R）损伤在睾丸损伤的病理生理过程中起一定作用。我们研究了褪黑激素在单侧睾丸扭转大鼠中同侧和对侧睾丸的氧化损伤效应：将21只青春期雄性Wistar大鼠分成三组,每组七只,处理如下：第1组（假手术组）：行左睾丸和双边睾丸假切除术;第2组（I/R组）：通过以下方式诱发缺血再灌注损伤（顺时针720°旋转左侧睾丸2小时,2小时后复位）：第3组（I／R＋MEL组）：大鼠经诱导缺血再灌注损伤和一次性褪黑激素注射（50mgkg-1,i．p）。处理后离体分离各组大鼠双侧睾丸,用于检测睾丸组织中抗氧化过氧化氢酶、超氧化物歧化酶和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶的活性,丙二醛、蛋白质羰基和一氧化氮的组织水平。较对照组,褪黑激素注射组同侧睾丸的脂质过氧化水平,相关酶活性降低,具有显著性（P〈0．05）,而在对侧的睾丸中相关酶活性变化无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。在对侧睾丸中,丙二醛水平改变具有明显统计学意义（P=0．009）。应用褪黑素能减轻老鼠同侧睾丸扭转所致缺血再灌注损伤的不利影响,而对于对侧睾丸,睾丸扭转影响不大。     

未成熟大鼠睾丸单侧扭转后对健侧血流和组织学的影响

目的:观察未成熟大鼠睾丸单侧扭转后对健侧睾丸血流供应和组织学的影响,并比较不同处理方法的疗效。方法:建立Wistar3周龄大鼠左侧睾丸扭转模型,分别建立对照组、扭转组、扭转复位组和扭转切除组,每组10只。彩色多普勒测量各组术前、术后8h(即扭转复位或切除术后2h)、12h、24h、72h右侧睾丸动脉收缩期最大血流速度,并于对照组和扭转组术后2h,扭转复位组和扭转切除组第1次术后12h各取2只大鼠右侧睾丸进行组织病理学观察。各组喂养至9周龄时分别取右侧睾丸进行组织学观察及检测各组大鼠右侧睾丸的生精小管直径(STD)、生精上皮细胞计数(CMSE)和睾丸活检评分(TBS)。结果:①未成熟睾丸左侧扭转后,右侧睾丸的血供呈持续性增加。②扭转组、扭转复位组和扭转切除组右侧睾丸均有不同程度的间质水肿和超微结构改变。③9周龄时扭转组、扭转切除组右侧睾丸重量均较对照组显著增加(P<0.01);各组大鼠STD、CMSE、TBS均无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论:未成熟大鼠睾丸单侧扭转后可引起对侧睾丸的血供增加和组织学改变,轻微损伤后扭转复位和睾丸切除预后效果相似。