Korean J Urol.  1999 May;40(5):634-639.

Testicular Transplantation in the Rat Model: The Comparison of Testosterone, Gonadotropin, and Histological Change in Allogenic and Isogenic Transplantation Group, and Implantation Group

• Choi S
• Rhew HY
• Yoo CH
• Kim MH
• Hur B

Abstract

PURPOSE: The fate of avascular implants was compared with that of testicular transplants using vascular anastomosis in castrated inbred rats.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Mature inbred male rats were bilaterally castrated and received one testicle as a transplant to the scrotum. The blood supply of the grafts was reestablished by performing an end-to-side anastomosis between an aorto-caval segment of the donor bearing the testicular vessels and the abdominal aorta plus vena cava of the recipient. The average ischemia was 90 min. Lutenizing hormone(LH), follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) and testosterone were determined by radioimmunoassay in serum samples.
RESULTS
In 12 transplant recipients(6 isografts and 6 allografts), a good blood perfusion of the graft was achieved. Out of these, 6 isogenic transplants maintained normal testosterone,LH and FSH during follow up. Implant recipients,however, all displayed a strking early rise of the serum gonadotropins and concomitant castrsted levels of serum testosterone.
CONCLUSIONS
Vascular transplantation rather than simple implantation is the method of choice for further research. And in allogenic testicular transplantation, there remains a problem of rejection after the operation, as in any other organ transplantation.

Keyword

Testis; Transplantation; Implantation; Gonadotropin

MeSH Terms

Animals
Aorta, Abdominal
Follow-Up Studies
Gonadotropins*
Humans
Ischemia
Isografts
Male
Models, Animal*
Organ Transplantation
Perfusion
Radioimmunoassay
Rats*
Scrotum
Testis
Testosterone*
Tissue Donors
Transplantation
Transplants
Gonadotropins
Testosterone