Is Ipsilateral Testis Mandatory for the Occurrence of Contralateral Intratesticular Biochemical Changes Indicative of Hypoxia after Unilateral Spermatic Cord Torsion?

Abstract

Experimental unilateral spermatic cord torsion has been shown to induce both ipsilateral and contralateral intratesticular biochemical changes indicative of hypoxia. An experimental study was conducted to see whether the presence of the ipsilateral testicular tissue is necessary for the occurrence of the biochemical changes in the contralateral testis. Male, adult, albino rats were divided into four groups each containing 10 rats. One group served to determine basal values of biochemical parameters indicative of tissue hypoxia, another group was subjected to unilateral spermatic cord torsion in the presence of ipsilateral testis; a further group was subjected to unilateral spermatic cord torsion after ipsilateral subepididymal orchiectomy, and the last group underwent unilateral subepididymal orchiectomy alone as control. Lactic acid, hypoxanthine and lipid peroxidation product levels which are biochemical indicators of tissue hypoxia were determined in testicular tissues and kidneys. All three parameters increased significantly in contralateral testes but not in kidneys after unilateral spermatic cord torsion both when the ipsilateral testis was present and absent (p < 0.05). It is concluded that the ipsilateral testis does not play a role in transmitting these contralateral changes after unilateral spermatic cord torsion. Impulse-triggering contralateral changes may arise from spermatic vessels or nerves.