Abstract
BackgroundWe introduced and recreated a more consistent and effective experimental varicocele rat model by a new clip technique.MethodsA total of 40 rats were numbered and randomly assigned to 5 groups of 8 each, including sham surgery (Group I), conventional (Group II) and clip groups with 0.7, 0.8, 0.9 mm gap widths, respectively (Group III, IV, V). All of the rats in each group were sacrificed at 8 weeks after initial surgery, and the rats forming out with less than 1 mm diameter of left spermatic vein or no presence of the pampiniform plexus dilation were excluded from the experimental groups. The left spermatic vein (LSV) diameter, testicular weight, left kidney weight to body weight coefficients, kidney and testicular histology were determined.ResultsThe baseline mean diameter of the LSV in Group I, II and III was 0.22 ± 0.02, 0.23 ± 0.02 and 0.22 ± 0.03 mm, respectively (P = 0.7504). At 8 weeks after initial surgery, varicocele was successfully created in 6/8 (75%), 7/8 (87.5%), 3/8 (37.5%), 3/8 (37.5%) in GroupII-V, no varicocele was observed in Group I. In Group I, II and III, no pathological changes were observed and the left kidney weight to body weight coefficients showed no significant differences. The diameter of LSV was remarkably increased both in Group II and III compared to Group I (1.72 ± 0.13, 1.57 ± 0.19 and 0.25 ± 0.02, respectively), and Group II and III had a smaller testicular weight than the rats in Group I (1.67 ± 0.05, 1.62 ± 0.06, and 1.92 ± 0.12, respectively).ConclusionsWith a new clip technique, surgically inducing varicocele rat model becomes convenient and safe. This appears to improve the effectiveness of the model and this innovation may allow us to further understand the pathophysiology of varicocele.
Highlights
We introduced and recreated a more consistent and effective experimental varicocele rat model by a new clip technique
In Group IV and V, there were 3/8, and 5/8 clips showing slipping off the renal vein, respectively, while in Group III no severe complication happened and all rats had successful except for one rat failing to form varicocele
At 8 weeks after initial surgery, the size was remarkably increased when measuring the diameter of left spermatic vein (LSV) both in Group II and III compared with Group I (1.72 ± 0.13, 1.57 ± 0.19 and 0.25 ± 0.02, respectively, P < 0.0001, Fig. 2a)
Summary
Experimental procedures In the present study, we created varicocele model in male Sprague-Dawley rats according to the procedures previously described by Turner TT [4], with partially occluding left renal vein and completely ligating the branches of the LSV. In Group II, a 4–0 silk suture was used for partially occluding of the left renal vein around a metal wire of 0.85 mm diameter at the point. In Group I, the rats with sham operation underwent a similar procedure that the left renal vein was dissected free but not ligated. In Group III, IV, and V, the clips with 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm and 0.9 mm gap widthsinstead of suture ligature was placed at the same point on the renal vein. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significance
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