Analysis of the relationship between histologic alterations and the generation of reactive oxygen species in vasectomized rat testes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of vasal obstruction on testicular structure, to determine if tissue and/or cell damage can cause significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and to correlate the histologic alterations to the measured levels of ROS products.


METHODS
To evaluate the effects of ROS generation in vasectomized testes, unilateral vasectomy was performed on 17 rats and tissue samples were examined by light microscopy. The histologic alterations were correlated to the measured tissue malondialdehyde levels by thiobarbituric acid analysis as an indicator of the ROS-induced tissue damage.


RESULTS
Unilateral vasectomy significantly affected the weights of the ipsilateral testes, but not the contralateral testes. No significant changes were noted in plasma estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone levels. The mean values of malondialdehyde were found to be significantly higher in vasectomized rats than in control rats (0.025 +/- 0.008 versus 0.018 +/- 0.007 nmol/mg protein) (P < 0.01). The malondialdehyde level was a mean of 28% lower in the contralateral testes tissue as compared to that found in ipsilateral testes (P < 0.01). Malondialdehyde output from vasectomized rats had a parallel correlation to tissue destruction.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that overproduction of ROS may be involved in vasectomy-induced testicular damage.
Aydos
K
K
Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Ankara, Turkey.
Kupeli
B
B
Soygur
T
T
Unsal
A
A
Erden
E
E
Tulunay
O
O
Kupeli
S
S
D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D014659:Vasectomy
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species