Effects of Artery-ligating and Artery-preserving Varicocelectomy on Ipsilateral Epididymis of Varicocele-induced Rats

Abstract

To investigate the effects of artery-ligating varicocelectomy (ALV) and artery-preserving varicocelectomy (APV) on the ipsilateral epididymis of varicocele-induced rats. A total of 50 adolescent male rats were randomly divided into the 4 groups: control group (n = 8), experimental varicocele (EV) without treatment (EV group, n = 14), EV with ALV (ALV group, n = 14), and EV with APV (APV group, n = 14). The EV was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein. ALV was performed by total ligation of the left internal spermatic artery and vein. APV was performed by ligation of the left internal spermatic vein only. The microstructure, epithelial ultrastructure, sialic acid and carnitine concentration, and epithelial apoptotic index of the left epididymis were measured. Microstructural and ultrastructural abnormalities of the left epididymis were observed in the EV group and especially in the ALV group. Both the mean epididymal tubular diameter and the concentration of sialic acid, carnitine gradually decreased or increased from the control group to the EV group then to the ALV group (P < .05). However, the epithelial apoptotic index orderly increased for the control group, EV group, and ALV group (P < .05). Furthermore, no significant difference was found between the control and APV groups for these parameters (P > .05). Varicocele was demonstrated to cause lesions of the ipsilateral epididymis. APV was able to repair the lesions; however, ALV led to additional lesions.