Determination of testicular function after torsion by DNA flow cytometry of serial fine-needle aspirates.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of DNA flow cytometric analysis of testicular percutaneous fine-needle aspirates in the assessment and follow-up of testicular function after torsion, and to determine the relationship between the duration of torsion and testicular injury.


METHODS
Three groups of 15 adult rats underwent a 720 degrees torsion, with fixation of the mesorchial ligament, for 1, 3 or 5 h. Bilateral aspirations, performed 7, 21 and 35 days after torsion were examined by flow cytometry. Testes were harvested and evaluated histologically using Johnsen's scoring.


RESULTS
Irreversible testicular injury occurred in all three groups of rats, with loss of function after 1 h and loss of viability after 3 and 5 h. The results from flow cytometry suggested significant contralateral testicular injury (P < 0.025) but this was not supported by the histological evaluation. There was a strong correlation between the testicular function assessed by flow cytometry and by Johnsen's scoring of histological specimens (r2 = 0.95).


CONCLUSIONS
The assessment of testicular aspirates by flow cytometry allows testicular function to be followed after torsion in rats, and potentially in humans. Using DNA flow cytometry, the temporal course of the twisted testis in the adult rat was determined; contralateral testicular injury following the reversal of torsion could not be excluded.
Carroll
T A
TA
Department of Surgery, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, University College Dublin, Ireland.
Regan
M C
MC
Alyusuf
R
R
Greene
D
D
Curran
B
B
Kay
E
E
Leader
M
M
Fitzpatrick
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D011003:Ploidies; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013091:Spermatogenesis
D004247:DNA