Reversal of degenerative changes in the scrotal testis after orchidopexy in experimental unilateral cryptorchidism.
Unilateral cryptorchidism was induced in newborn Wistar rat pups. Using DNA flow cytometry to compare scrotal testes of control and cryptorchid animals, there was a significant difference decrease in the haploid cell population in cryptorchid animals from 40 days of age. Orchidopexy was performed at 30 days (at the time of normal descent), 50 days (pubertal), and 90 days (fully mature adult). When with sham-operated control and cryptorchid animals of the same age were compared, there was no decrease in the haploid population at any age in the scrotal testis if orchidopexy was performed at 30 days; the degenerative changes could be reversed to normal if orchidopexy was performed at 50 days; however, if operation was delayed to 90 days, the decreased numbers of haploid cells in the scrotal testis were neither prevented nor reversed and remained significantly lower than normal controls (P less than .005). This study shows that orchidopexy performed before adulthood reverses secondary degenerative changes in the scrotal testis in an animal model of unilateral cryptorchidism.
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Northern Ireland.
F M
FM
Quinn
A D
AD
Crockard
S
S
Brown
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery*; D006238:Haploidy; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology*