Effects of unilateral testicular rupture on the histology of the contralateral testis in rats

Lee, Dong Hwan

Abstract

It would appear that unilateral rupture of the testis causes the breakdown of sequestration mechanisms which normally prevent presentation of antigens within the genital tract to the immune system. We performed this experiment to evaluate the histological changes of contralateral testis following rupture of unilateral testis in rats. Left testicular rupture was induced in Sprague- Dawley rats by incision of tunica albuginea and partial resection of seminiferous tubules. After 1 and 7 days, the ruptured testes were surgically removed and all rats were fed for 5 months. And there was algo an experimental group that the ruptured tested were not removed and were fed for 5 months. Right testes were obtained just after being sacrificed in each group and histological changes were compared with the control group. The size of seminiferous tubule was markedly decreased and the basement membrane was thickened in groups that the ruptured tested were removed after 7 days and not removed for 5 months. Also, spermatid was not found and only sertoli cells were lined in these groups. However, these changes were not noticed in control group and the group that ruptured testes were removed after 1 day. These results imply that unilateral testicular rupture may cause histological changes of contralateral testis and early exploration may reduce contralateral testicular damage.