The influence of temperature on changes in pH, lactate and morphology during testicular ischaemia.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the role of temperature in the irreversible changes that occur within 4-6 h as ischaemic atrophy develops in the testis during testicular torsion, by determining effects on testicular pH, lactate accumulation and morphology.


METHODS
Tissue acidification (pH), tissue lactate and structural changes were measured at temperatures of 35, 25, 15 and 5 degrees C in 34 human testes obtained as orchidectomy specimens from patients with metastatic prostatic cancer, and in 19 testes taken from young dogs.


RESULTS
At a normal testicular temperature of 35 degrees C, the pH decreased to 6.0 within 2 h of the onset of ischaemia; cooling to 15 degrees C extended this delay to 6 h. Tissue lactate increased from 25 mumol/g dry weight to about 200 mumol/g at 35 degrees C. Semi-thin sections of the canine testes showed swelling of the intratubular tissue with loss of interstitial space; lower temperature delayed these changes.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study, 6 h of torsion was relatively prolonged, in that the pH decreased to 5.8 and testicular tissue was destroyed. Acidification and histological damage can be prevented by cooling. The critical pH of the testis beyond which irreversible changes occur is unknown; a pH of < 6.0 is likely to provoke such changes.
Kallerhoff
M
M
Klinik für Urologie, Georg August Universität, Göttingen, Germany.
Gross
A J
AJ
Bötefür
I C
IC
Zöller
G
G
Weidner
W
W
Holstein
A F
AF
Ringert
R H
RH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007773:Lactates / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
D007773:Lactates