Effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on prepubertal rat testis.
The testes of prepubertal male rats (N = 12) aged 21 days were stimulated with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (1.5-MHz frequency, 1-KHz repetition pulse rate, 200-microseconds pulse width, 30-V peak-to-peak amplitude and 20-mW/cm2 intensity) applied to the skin for 20 min/day for 7 days. Control rats (N = 8) were manipulated in the same manner but not submitted to ultrasound. Ultrasound stimulation promoted a significant increase in plasma testosterone (62%) leading to a significant increase in seminal vesicle relative weight (35%) as well as an increase in the fructose (92%) and DNA (200%) contents of the gland. No differences were detected between ultrasound-treated and control animals in terms of body weight and the relative weights of testis, cauda epididymidis, testis DNA and mitosis.
Haddad
S
S
Departamento de Bioengenharia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.
Anselmo-Franci
J A
JA
Petenusci
S O
SO
Lamano-Carvalho
T L
TL
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004822:Epididymis / Q000502:physiology; D005632:Fructose / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008938:Mitosis; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014465:Ultrasonics
D005632:Fructose; D013739:Testosterone; D004247:DNA