The Effects of Experimental Cryptorchidism and Subsequent Orchiopexy on the Fertility and Histologic Changes

Chung, Ky Hyun; Choi, Hwang

Abstract

Cryptorchidism is one of the most common anomalies of genitourinary tract in childhood but its pathogenesis has not been determined. And because the long term efficacy of treatment for cryptorchidism is difficult to evaluate in humans, many investigators have developed animal models. We used an animal model to study the effects of cryptorchidism on the fertility and histologic changes. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated to create mechanical cryptorchidism at 5 weeks of age and orchiopexies were done with varing intervals. After they reached puberty, each male rat was mated with two female rats five times. At 28 week old, all testes of rats were enucleated and examined microscopically. Fertility rate was 13% in control rats and there was no difference in fertility between control rats and rats with mechanical cryptochidism. Testicular volume proportionally decreased according to the duration of abdominal testis. Interestingly, in unilateral cryptorchidism, scrotal testicular volume decreased, too. Microscopically, the size and content of the seminiferous tubule and the spermatogenic index showed tendencies to decrease according to the duration of abdominal testis.