Orchidopexy or orchidectomy for preventing tissue hypoxia in contralateral testis following induction of ipsilateral abdominal testis associated with vas deferens obstruction.
BACKGROUND
An experimental study was planned to evaluate and compare the effects of orchidopexy and orchidectomy on ipsilateral and contralateral testes in rats subjected to ipsilateral abdominal testis and vas deferens obstruction.


METHODS
Four groups of 12 rats each were established. Sham operation, intra-abdominal testis with vas deferens obstruction and orchidopexy or orchidectomy for prior intra-abdominal testis with vas deferens obstruction were performed in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. While testes were maintained for 8 weeks in the same position in groups 1 and 2, orchidopexy or orchidectomy was performed in groups 3 and 4 after the first 4 weeks, and the remaining testes were harvested after an additional 4 weeks. Lactic acid hypoxanthine contents were determined and the groups were compared with the paired t test.


RESULTS
Maintaining intra-abdominal testis with vas deferens obstruction for 8 weeks and orchidopexy yielded the highest lactate values. However lactate levels in contralateral testes did not increase. On the other hand, hypoxanthine levels revealed the highest values after the initial 4 weeks. The 8-week study period resulted in increases of ipsilateral and contralateral testicular hypoxanthine levels. Orchidopexy caused a decrease in ipsilateral testicular values and ameliorated the increase in hypoxanthine levels in contralateral testes.


CONCLUSIONS
Replacing an intra-abdominal testis with its vas deferens ligated into the scrotum ameliorates the oxidative stress in both ipsilateral and contralateral testes. Since orchidectomy does not result in better contralateral testicular values, orchidopexy should be preferred when treating an undescended testis with vasal obstruction.
Otçu
Selçuk
S
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Karnak
Ibrahim
I
Kilinç
Asuman
A
Kilinç
Kamer
K
Tanyel
F Cahit
FC
D000818:Animals; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019271:Hypoxanthine / Q000378:metabolism; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000379:methods*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013737:Testis / Q000601:surgery*; D014659:Vasectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*
D019271:Hypoxanthine; D019344:Lactic Acid