Electric waves recorded from the testicle: are they capsular or from the testicular tissue?

Abstract

We demonstrated in a previous study that electric waves could be recorded from the testicle by applying the electrodes either directly to the tunica albuginea (TA) or transcutaneously. As the TA contains smooth muscle fibres which presumably transmit the electric waves, we investigated the hypothesis that the electric waves recorded from the testicle originated from the TA. During the repair of inguino-scrotal hernia in 24 men [age 36.6 +/- 8.6 years (mean +/- SD)], the tunica vaginalis was everted because of the presence of hydrocele. The electric activity of the TA was recorded by three surface electrodes and that of the testicle by three needle electrodes. The recorded potentials were amplified and displayed on an electromyographic apparatus. Triphasic slow waves (SWs) were recorded from the TA. They showed similar frequency, amplitude and conduction velocity from the three electrodes of the individual subject and were reproducible. They were followed or superimposed by bursts of action potentials (APs) which occurred randomly. No waves were recorded from the three needle electrodes inserted into the testicular tissue. The current study could demonstrate that the electric waves recorded from the electrodes applied to the testicle were derived from the TA and not from the testicular tissue. This finding apparently denotes that the TA has a resting tone and probably motile activity, the role of which in testicular function needs to be studied.