MP01-15 THE IN-VIVO EFFICACY OF LOW-INTENSITY SHOCKWAVE THERAPY ON SPERM PARAMETERS IN AN AGED RAT MODEL

Abstract

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023MP01-15 THE IN-VIVO EFFICACY OF LOW-INTENSITY SHOCKWAVE THERAPY ON SPERM PARAMETERS IN AN AGED RAT MODEL Taher Naeem, Gal Saffati, Weitao Song, Thomas Garcia, Mohit Khera, and Manuel Villarreal Taher NaeemTaher Naeem More articles by this author , Gal SaffatiGal Saffati More articles by this author , Weitao SongWeitao Song More articles by this author , Thomas GarciaThomas Garcia More articles by this author , Mohit KheraMohit Khera More articles by this author , and Manuel VillarrealManuel Villarreal More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003212.15AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Low-intensity shockwave therapy (LIST) is a safe, non-invasive therapy and an effective treatment option for erectile dysfunction (ED) and many other etiologies by stimulating angiogenesis in the target tissue. It has been theorized that a similar effect could be observed in infertile patients by stimulating spermatogenesis though very little data exists to determine the in-vivo efficacy thereof. This study seeks to investigate the efficacy of LIST on semen parameters in a rat model with age-induced infertility. METHODS: In this primary experiment, 8 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at age 6-months were divided into 2 arms: control (N=4) and treatment (N=4). The treatment group received 600 shocks on the testis (3 site on each side, 100 shocks on each site) per session at 0.10 mJ/mm2 3 times a week for 4 weeks and the control group received placebo shocks. One month after the treatment was complete, the rats were euthanized, and semen samples obtained from the epididymis and analyzed using computer assisted sperm analysis. Statistical analysis was done using non-parametric Wilcoxon testing. RESULTS: Testis weights and testosterone levels were not statistically significantly different between the two groups and semen parameters in the treatment group were not statistically significantly improved from the control group. The only notable improvement was in linearity of the average path of the sperm (p=.0239), though this parameter is not a clinically significant one. Histological analysis of the testes and epididymis is ongoing. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that LIST does not have an appreciable effect on semen parameters in a SD rat model. This contradicts a prior study that shows an improvement in semen parameters after LIST using a slightly different energy level of 0.05 mJ/mm2. More work needs to be done to determine if LIST is an effective treatment for male infertility. Source of Funding: McNair Foundation © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e8 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Taher Naeem More articles by this author Gal Saffati More articles by this author Weitao Song More articles by this author Thomas Garcia More articles by this author Mohit Khera More articles by this author Manuel Villarreal More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...