The effect of testicular torsion on the contralateral testis in rats

Moon, Hyun Joon; Yang, Kou Young

Abstract

Prepubertal male Sparague-Dawley rats were used to investigate the effects of unilateral testicular torsion on the contralateral testicular histology. All rats were divided into eight experimental group (5 animals each), one of which was used for experimental control (sham operation). We have examined contralateral testes to determine the effect of therapeutic orchiectomy or detorsion after active physical 720' torsion (six hrs., twelve hrs., twenty four hrs.) through hemi-scrotal incision, and the effect of torsion only for two weeks. The contralateral testes demonstrated significant decreased weights variously and smaller seminiferous tubular diameter in both the orchiectomy and detorsion groups compared to the torsion only group, and there was marked contralateral testicular alterations in the torsion only group compared to the control group. These studies indicate that testicular torsion will cause contralateral testicular damage, and these contralateral alterations may be caused by generalized perineal inflammatory responses rather than immunologic phenomenon.