Objective: An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the damages in ipsilateral and contralateral testes in individual or associated presences of 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 epididymis from testis, abdominal placement of the testis, abdominal placement 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. Relative proportions of haploid, diploid and tetraploid cells were determined by DNA flow cytometry. MSTD, MTBS and the proportions of haploid cells were compared through one–way analysis of variance. Results: While vas deferens ligation has diminished MSTD only in the contralateral testes, abdominal testis and detachment of epididymis have diminished MSTD in both ipsilateral and contralateral testes. MTBS were depressed only in the ipsilateral testes in groups of abdominal testis, vas deferens ligation and detachment of epdidymis. However, ratios of haploid DNA were depressed in both ipsilateral and contralateral testes. Abdominal testis together with vas ligation or detachment of epididymis has further depressed the 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 damages encountered within the ipsilateral and contralateral testes.

Keywords:
Cryptorchidism, Vas deferens, DNA flow cytometry, Testis, Epididymis
1.
Kogan S, Cryptorchidism; in Kelalis PP, King LL, Belman AB (eds): Clinical Pediatric Urology, ed 2. Philadelphia, Saunders, 1992, vol II, chap 23, pp 1050–1083.
2.
Karnak I, Gedikoğlu G, Tanyel FC, Büyükpamukçu N, Hiçsönmez A: The effects of chemical sympathectomy on contralateral testicular histology, fertility and fecundity in unilateral abdominal testis. Br J Urol 1996;77:580–584.
3.
Karnak I, Tanyel FC, Kılınç K, Büyükpamukçu N, Hiçsönmez A: Tissue hypoxia in ipsilateral and contralateral testes undergoing surgically induced maldescent. Eur J Pediatr Surg 1996;6:281–284.
4.
Smith G: The effects of ligation of the vasa efferentia and vasectomy on testicular function in the adult rat. J Endocrinol 1962;23:385– 399.
5.
Parkhouse H, Hendry WF: Vasal injuries during childhood and their effects on subsequent fertility. Br J Urol 1991;67:91–95.
6.
Marshall FF, Ewing LL, Zirkin BR, Cochran RC: Testicular atrophy associated with agenesis of the epididymis in the ACI rat. J Urol 1982;127:155–158.
7.
Gill B, Kogan S, Starr S, Reda E, Lewitt S: Significance of epididymal and ductal anomalies associated with testicular maldescent. J Urol 1989;142:556–558.
8.
Elder JS: Epididymal anomalies associated with hydrocele/hernia and cryptorchidism: Implications regarding testicular descent. J Urol 1992;148:624–626.
9.
Barthold JS, Redman JF: Association of epididymal anomalies with patient processus vaginalis in hernia, hydrocele and cryptorchidism. J Urol 1996;156:2054–2056.
10.
Oguzkurt P, Okur H, Tanyel FC, Büyükpamukçu N, Hiçsönmez A: The effects of vasodilatation and chemical sympathectomy on spermatogenesis following unilateral testicular torsion: A flow cytometric DNA analysis. Br J Urol 1998;82:104–108.
11.
Salman AB, Okur H, Tanyel FC: DNA flow cytometry reveals depressed spermatogenetic activity in the contralateral testis within 24 h of ipsilateral spermatic cord torsion independently of the presence of the testis and epididymis. Eur Urol 1998;34:377–381.
12.
Kawai S: DNA flow cytometric evaluation of spermatogenesis. Acta Urol Jpn 1985;31:87– 85.
13.
Hellstrom WJG, Tesluk H, Deitch AD, de Vere WR: Comparison of flow cytometry to routine testicular biopsy in male infertility. Urology 1990;35:321–326.
14.
Hittmair A, Rogatsch H, Offner F, Feichtinger H, Ofner D, Mikuz G: Deoxyribonucleic acid flow cytometry and semi–quantative histology of spermatogenesis: A comparative study. Fertil Steril 1992;58:1040–1045.
15.
Carroll TA, Regan MC, Alyusuf R, Greene D, Curran B, Kay E, Leadre M, Fitzpatrick JM: Determination of testicular function after torsion by DNA flow cytometry of serial fine–needle aspirates. Br J Urol 1997;79:449–454.
16.
Tanyel FC, Ayhan A, Büyükpamukçu N, Hiçsönmez A: The testes after unilateral incarcerated inguinal hernia in prepubertal rats. Turk J Pediatr 1989;31:265–268.
17.
Tanyel FC, Ayhan A, Büyükpamukçu N, Hiçsönmez A: The fate of testes following unilateral incarcerated inguinal hernia in adult rats. Br J Urol 1989;64:176–179.
18.
Tanyel FC, Ayhan A, Büyükpamukçu N, Hiçsönmez A: Subsequent testicular histology, fertility and fecundity of rats subjected to unilateral incarcerated inguinal hernia during prepubertal period. J Pediatr Surg 1991;26:204– 206.
19.
Choi H, Choo MS, Kim WH, Lee YS, Chung MH: The alterations of cellular metabolism in the contralateral testis following spermatic cord torsion in rats. J Urol 1993;150:577–580.
20.
Kass EJ, Reitelman C: Adolescent varicocele. Urol Clin N Am 1995;22:151–159.
21.
Tanyel FC, Büyükpamukçu N, Hiçsönmez A: Contralateral testicular blood flow during unilateral testicular torsion. Br J Urol 1989;63: 522–524.
22.
Kızılcan F, Bernay I, Tanyel FC, Büyükpamukçu N, Bekdik C, Hiçsönmez A: Ipsilateral and contralateral testicular blood flow during unilateral testicular torsion by 133Xe clearance technique. Int Urol Nephrol 1992;24:515–520.
23.
Kolettis PN, Stowe NT, Inman SR, Thomas AJ Jr: Acute spermatic cord torsion alters the microcirculation of the contralateral testis. J Urol 1996;155:350–354.
24.
Akgür FM, Kılınç K, Tanyel FC, Büyükpamukçu N, Hiçsönmez A: Ipsilateral and contralateral testicular biochemical acute changes after unilateral testicular tortion and detortion. Urology 1994;44:413–418.
25.
Ciftci AO, Müftüoglu S, Çakar N, Tanyel FC: Histological evidence of decreased contralateral testicular blood flow during ipsilateral testicular torsion. Br J Urol 1997;80:783–786.
26.
Salman AB, Mutlu S, Iskit AB, Guc O, Mutlu M, Tanyel FC: Hemodynamic monitoring of the contralateral testis during unilateral torsion describes the mechanism of damage. Eur Urol 1998;33:576–580.
27.
Karagüzel G, Tanyel FC, Kılınç K, Büyükpamukçu N, Hiçsönmez A: The preventive role of chemical sympathectomy on contralateral testicular hypoxic parameters encountered during unilateral testicular torsion. Br J Urol 1994;74:507–510.
28.
Karagüzel G, Gedikoğlu G, Tanyel FC, Büyükpamukçu N, Hiçsönmez A: Subsequent biological effects of chemical sympathectomy in rats undergoing unilateral testicular torsion. Eur Urol 1995;28:147–151.
29.
Karagüzel G, Gedikoğlu G, Tanyel FC, Büyükpamukçu N, Hiçsönmez A: Is ipsilateral testis mandatory for contralateral testicular damage encountered following spermatic cord torsion? Urol Res 1994;22:115–117.
30.
Salman AB, Kılınç K, Tanyel FC: Torison of only spermatic cord in the absence of testis and/or epididymis results in contralateral testicular hypoxia. Urol Res 1997;25:413–415.
31.
Brown PDL, Waites GMH: Regional blood flow in the epididymis of the rat and rabbit: effect of efferent duct ligation and orchidectomy. J Reprod Fert 1972;28:221–225.
32.
Andıran F, Okur HD, Kılınç A, Gedikoğlu G, Kılınç K, Tanyel FC: Do experimentally induced ipsilateral testicular torsion, vas deferens obstruction, intraabdominal testis and venous obstruction share a common pathway to damage the contralateral testis? BJU Int 2000; 85:330–335.
2001
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.