Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave on Ovary of Sprague-Dawley Rat

Park, Joong Hyun; Jang, Seok Heun; Kwon, Sung Won

Abstract

Ovaries lie near the distal ureter where extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) of calculi is performed. The question whether ESWL may induce morphological changes in ovary should be investigated in animal experiments. After applying shock waves to ovary of Sprague Dawley female rat, the histopathologic changes within the tissue of ovary were observed immediately after shock waves and after recovery. For animal subjects, 25 healthy rats weighing about 250 grams each were used. Five rats were designated as control, and remaining 20 received shock waves at 20 kV for 1,000 times using Pendulum-ESWL (Lithoring), a third generation lithotriptor. The 20 rats were divided into 4 groups before shock waves, and each group was sacrificed after 1, 7, 14, and 28 days, respectively, in order to compare the observed histopathologic changes. Edema, congestion and hemorrhage were observed in ovary after 1 and 7 days of shock waves, but the edema and congestion were significantly reduced on the 14th day and completely disappeared on the 28th day. There was no ovarian follicular changes or fibrosis on the whole. It is thought that the extracorporeal shock waves have no specific effects on the tissues of ovary, but further studies ate needed to determine its long term effects.