Contralateral Testicular Blood Flow Research Articles

Unilateral spermatic cord torsion without ipsilateral spermatogenetic material: effects on testicular blood flow and fertility potential.

This experiment was planned to answer the question of how the elimination of ipsilateral spermatogenetic material, which is necessary for contralateral testicular damage caused by an autoimmune response, affects contralateral testicular blood flow and fertility potential in unilateral spermatic cord torsion (USCT). Thirty-four male and 68 female adult albino rats were divided into three groups. Group 1 rats underwent a control operation, group 2 rats underwent subepididymal orchiectomy to eliminate spermatogenetic material, and group 3 rats underwent USCT after subepididymal orchiectomy. Testicular blood flows of the rats were measured by (133)Xe clearance technique. Additionally, to determine fertility potential, each male rat was housed with two female rats. Numbers of impregnated and delivered rats were recorded. Both mean testicular blood flow and fecundity of group 3 were significantly lower than those of groups 1 and 2. When compared with groups 1 and 2, fertility and mean number of the impregnated rats of group 3 were lower but the differences were not significant. These findings suggest that absence of spermatogenetic material in USCT reduces contralateral blood flow and fertility potential. Therefore, contralateral testicular damage originating from blood flow alterations rather than autoimmune mechanism should be considered to explain fertility problems encountered following USCT.

Testicular Blood Flow Alterations and Flow Cytometric Analysis in Prepubertal Rats with Experimentally Induced Unilateral Varicocele

Unilateral testicular pathologies have been accused of causing contralateral damage through a decrease in testicular blood flow. However, the contralateral testicular blood flow in unilateral varicocele has not been studied in detail. Therefore, the present study has been designed to evaluate the effects of a unilateral varicocele on the ipsilateral and on the contralateral testicular blood flow and the flow cytometric alterations in prepubertal rats. Experimental stenosis of the left renal vein in prepubertal rats causes dilation of the testicular vessels after puberty. Partial stenosis of the ipsilateral renal vein during the prepubertal period has no effect on ipsilateral or contralateral testicular blood flow, but does induce significant testicular damage, as determined by flow cytometry.

Ischemia, whether from ligation or torsion, causes ultrastructural changes on the contralateral testis.

Unilateral testicular torsion results with a decrease in contralateral testicular blood flow caused by a reflexive sympathetic response. The aim of this study was to investigate whether twisting of the spermatic cord, or testicular ischemia without twisting, activates this reflex mechanism and causes ultrastructural changes in the contralateral side. Thirty adult male albino Wistar rats were randomly allocated into three groups of sham, torsion, and ligation. Right testes were twisted 720 degrees counterclockwise in the torsion group. Right spermatic cords were ligated permanently with a silk suture including the vas deferens in the ligation group. After 24 h of testicular ischemia, contralateral left testes were removed for electron microscopic evaluation. Contralateral testes showed similar ultrastructural changes in the torsion and ligation groups. The fibrous tunica propria enveloping the seminiferous tubule was thickened due to increased collagen fibers. The basal lamina was continuous but thickened and showed several foldings. The gap between basal lamina and the germ cells was increased because of collagen fibers. Leydig cells showed mitochondrial degeneration with the loss of its cristae. Leydig cells lost their contact with its neighborhood cells in some areas, and these gaps were filled with collagen fibers. Germ cells showed dilated cisternae of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasmic electron-dense bodies and clear regions. Similar electron microscopic findings observed in the torsion and ligation groups indicate that testicular ischemia rather than twisting of the spermatic cord is responsible for the ultrastructural changes in the contralateral side.

Do experimentally induced ipsilateral testicular torsion, vas deferens obstruction, intra-abdominal testis or venous obstruction damage the contralateral testis through a common mechanism?

To evaluate if various conditions affecting the ipsilateral testis which also damage the contralateral testis share a common pathway for their effects. The study comprised five groups of 10 adult rats which underwent surgery to produce (on their left sides); group 1, a sham operation (control); group 2, testicular torsion; group 3, vas deferens obstruction; group 4, an intra-abdominal testis; and group 5, venous obstruction. The ipsilateral and contralateral testes were harvested 4 weeks after surgery. The relative proportions of haploid cells, the mean seminiferous tubular diameter (MSTD), mean testicular biopsy scores (MTBS), and lactate and hypoxanthine levels were determined and compared. The proportions of haploid cells in the ipsilateral and the contralateral testes of groups 2-5 were significantly lower than those of the corresponding testes of the control group. The MSTD and MTBS of the ipsilateral testes in groups 2-5 were also significantly lower than the ipsilateral testes of controls and the contralateral testes within the same groups. While the MSTD and MTBS of the contralateral testes of groups 1 and 5 were not significantly different, those of the contralateral testes of groups 2-4 were significantly less than that of group 1. The lactic acid and hypoxanthine levels of the ipsilateral and contralateral testes were significantly increased in groups 2 and 3. While only the hypoxanthine level of group 5 increased significantly, both variables were not significantly different between the ipsilateral testes of groups 1 and 4. These four treatments damaged both the ipsilateral and contralateral testes. As the lactic acid and hypoxanthine levels within the contralateral testis were greater than in the controls, testicular torsion and vas deferens obstruction seem to share a common pathway (which may be a reflex decrease in contralateral testicular blood flow) for their effects on the contralateral testis.

Effects of unilateral testicular torsion on the blood flow of contralateral testis--an experimental study on dogs.

The effects of unilateral testicular torsion on the blood flow of the contralateral testis were investigated. Fourteen adult male dogs were recruited. Seven dogs underwent unilateral testicular torsion of 4 h duration, and the other seven dogs had a control operation. Testicular blood flow was determined by colour Doppler ultrasonography before and after the testicular torsion. Bilateral orchidectomy was performed at the end of the study and histopathological changes were evaluated. Values of peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and resistive index were not statistically significant between ipsilateral and contralateral testes in the study group (p > 0.05). On comparison with the control group, blood flow in the contralateral testes showed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). Oedema and congestion were seen on ipsilateral testes in the study group. No histopathological changes were noted on the contralateral testes. Minimal oedema and congestion secondary to manipulation were found in the control operation testes. We conclude that unilateral testicular torsion does not decrease contralateral testicular blood flow as shown by colour Doppler ultrasonography.

Hemodynamic Monitoring of the Contralateral Testis during Unilateral Testicular Torsion Describes the Mechanism of Damage

Contralateral testicular perfusion during unilateral testicular torsion was evaluated using simultaneous blood flow and O₂ content determinations. Two groups, each consisting of 7 rats, were studied. Sham operation or 720° clockwise twisting was performed on the left testes, and blood flow, O₂ content and temperatures were monitored in the right testes for 180 min. An ultrasonic perivascular Doppler flowmeter system, an electronic thermometer and an O₂ electrode were used for the monitoring. The contralateral testicular blood flow and relative O₂ contents were stable in the control group. However, the initial and 180 min blood flow values decreased from 0.21 ± 0.04 to 0.11 ± 0.02 ml/min (p < 0.001), and the O₂ contents from 0.857 ± 0.123 to 0.319 ± 0.037 (1.0 corresponds to 19.6 mm Hg pO₂, p < 0.05) in the experimental group. Unilateral testicular torsion decreases the blood flow and O₂ content of the contralateral testis. The contralateral testicular injury encountered following unilateral testicular torsion might result from hypoxia following the decrease in blood flow.

Histological evidence of decreased contralateral testicular blood flow during ipsilateral testicular torsion

To evaluate contralateral testicular blood flow by histological examination of arterioles during ipsilateral testicular torsion. The study comprised two groups of 20 male albino rats (weight 250-270 g). The control group underwent a sham operation, while in the second group the left testes were twisted clockwise by 720 degrees. All rats underwent bilateral orchidectomy 24 h after the initial intervention. Three slides for each testis (n = 240) were evaluated randomly while unaware of treatment to determine the total number of arterioles, the percentage of collapsed and open arterioles, the diameter of open arterioles and the presence or absence of blood cells in the lumen. Differences were assessed using t-tests for paired and independent samples. Very few arterioles were collapsed in both testes of the control group and in the ipsilateral testes of the torsion group, but half the arterioles in the contralateral testes of the torsion group were collapsed. The difference between the contralateral testes of the two groups and between the ipsilateral and contralateral testes in the torsion group were significant. The diameter of uncollapsed arterioles did not differ significantly among either testes of the control and torsion groups and either testes in each group. Both testes in the torsion group had significantly more arterioles containing blood cells than those in the control group. The difference between the testes in the torsion group was also significant, but was not in the control group. There was histological evidence of decreased blood flow in the contralateral testis during unilateral testicular torsion; contralateral testicular damage during unilateral testicular torsion may result from hypoxia caused by decreased blood flow.

Ipsilateral and contralateral testicular blood flows during unilateral testicular torsion by 133Xe clearance technique.

Testicular blood flows during unilateral testicular torsion were measured by Xenon-133 clearance technique. Xenon-133 was injected via the left carotid artery into the heart. Measurements were performed in control and left-sided testicular torsion groups, each consisting of ten rats. Left and right testicular blood flows, which were 29.157 +/- 2.272 ml/100 g/min and 29.773 +/- 2.934 ml/100 g/min in the controls, were 11.983 +/- 3.655 ml/100 g/min and 16.098 +/- 3.757 ml/100 g/min in the experimental group and differed significantly. The decrease in contralateral testicular blood flow may play an important role in the contralateral testicular damage encountered following unilateral testicular torsion.

Contralateral testicular blood flow in unilateral testicular torsion measured by the 133Xe clearance technique.

Contralateral testicular blood flow was measured by the intratesticular injection of 133Xe in 9 controls (Group 1) and in 34 adult male albino rats with experimentally induced left testicular torsion. In Group 2 (n = 9) testicular torsion was maintained for 3 h; in Group 3 (n = 7) torsion was maintained for 9 h and in Group 4 (n = 10) for 15 days. In Group 5 (n = 16) torsion was maintained for 9 h in 8 rats and the sera were given to 8 normal animals. In Groups 3, 4 and 5 there was a significant increase in contralateral testicular blood flow on the fifteenth day. This increase may be the cause of contralateral testicular damage in prolonged unilateral testicular torsion.

Testicular Blood Flow in Peripubertal and Older Rats with Unilateral Experimental Varicocele and Investigation into the Mechanism of the Bilateral Response to the Unilateral Lesion

Testicular and reference organ blood flows and testicular temperatures were determined in peripubertal and mature rats with and without experimental left varicocele (ELV). Testicular blood flow and temperature were significantly increased bilaterally 30 days after surgery to induce unilateral varicocele, and this was the case in both the younger and older animals. It has not previously been known that the pathophysiological effects of ELV extended to the peripubertal testis. Previous experiments have demonstrated that the left testis is not necessary for the right testicular response to varicocele. In the present paper, animals were subjected to left orchiectomy simultaneously with the surgery to induce ELV. Thirty days later, the animals were divided into those with and those without the left spermatic vein varicosity. Testicular blood flow was determined in all these animals as well as in a separate group of control and experimental varicocele animals. The group of ELV animals with left spermatic varicosity demonstrated a significant increase in contralateral testicular blood flow while the ELV group without left spermatic varicosity did not. We speculate that left venous distention is involved in the mechanism for the contralateral response to unilateral varicocele. (J. Urol., 144: 1018–1021, 1990)

Contralateral testicular blood flow during unilateral testicular torsion.

Changes in contralateral testicular blood flow during unilateral testicular torsion were evaluated using an electromagnetic flowmeter in 13 adult male New Zealand White rabbits. There was an immediate and then a progressive decrease during torsion and a gradual increase following detorsion. A decrease in testicular blood flow over a critical period of time may be associated with contralateral testicular damage following unilateral testicular torsion.