title: Chemical sympathectomy by 6-OH dopamine during fetal life results in inguinal testis through altering cremasteric contractility in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Androgens are proposed to influence testicular descent through modulating sympathetic tone. An experimental study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of prenatal chemical sympathectomy on testicular location associated with the alterations in contractile properties of cremaster muscles in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Time-mated pregnancies were started in 10 rats. Two groups, each receiving saline or 6-hydroxydopamine from day 15 to day 19 of intrauterine life were established. At 2 months of age, localization of testes were evaluated, cremaster muscles were removed, and contractile properties were studied. Twitch and tetanic contractions were recorded isometrically at 37 degrees C. Effects of verapamil, isoprenaline, and L-NNA were investigated. Results were compared through analysis of variance (ANOVA), and P values less than.05 were considered to be significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both testes of all male offspring in the control group (n = 19) were in the scrotum. Six offspring among 17 subjected to 6-hydroxydopamine had undescended testes. Treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine had no effect on force-frequency relationship of cremaster muscle strips. Cremaster muscles of rats exposed to 6-hydroxydopamine had lower sensitivity to voltage-sensitive Ca++ channel blockade by verapamil (3 x 10(4) mol/L; P <.05). These muscles displayed greater contractile response to isoprenaline (10(-5) mol/L; P <.05) but not to nitric oxide synthase inhibition by N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine. Alterations in contractile properties of the muscles did not differ according to localization of testes among rats subjected to 6-hydroxydopamine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of 6-hydroxydopamine resulted in suprascrotally located testes. This localization has been associated with less exposure at sympathetic tonus. These findings support that sympathetic activity plays an important role in localization of testis.
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: F Cahit
authors: FC
authors: Tanyel
authors: Mert
authors: M
authors: Ertunç
authors: Saniye
authors: S
authors: Ekinci
authors: Selçuk
authors: S
authors: Otçu
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Yildirim
authors: Rüştü
authors: R
authors: Onur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000196:embryology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D019335:Nitroarginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D013563:Sympathectomy, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000633:toxicity*; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D013565:Sympatholytics; D013566:Sympathomimetics; D019335:Nitroarginine; D016627:Oxidopamine; D014700:Verapamil; D007545:Isoproterenol