Histologic and molecular changes in the ipsilateral and contralateral epididymides of the rat in response to unilateral testicular torsion followed by detorsion.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the histologic and molecular changes in the ipsilateral and contralateral epididymides in response to unilateral testicular torsion followed by detorsion.


METHODS
Controlled experimental study using rats.


METHODS
Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.


METHODS
Thirty-five, 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats: six experimental groups and a sham-operated control group.


METHODS
Testes of male rats were subjected to torsion for 10 minutes. At 0, 1, 4, 8, 24 hours and 1 week after detorsion, ipsilateral and contralateral epididymides were harvested. Microscopic examination and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining was performed. The percentage of apoptotic ducts in the epididymis was determined by counting 100 duct cross-sections of the head and the tail of the epididymis of each specimen.


METHODS
Morphologic change, including in situ apoptosis, of the ductal epithelium was evaluated.


RESULTS
There was no evidence of morphologic or apoptotic changes in the 0- or 1-hour detorsion groups. However, enlargement of the interstitial fibrous tissue was found 8 and 24 hours after detorsion and marked degeneration of ductal epithelium was observed at 1 week in both the ipsilateral and contralateral epididymides. Apoptosis was first observed at 4 hours after detorsion, and the percentage of apoptotic ducts was significantly increased at 8 hours, peaked at 24 hours, and slightly decreased at 1 week in both the ipsilateral and contralateral epididymides.


CONCLUSIONS
Both morphologic changes and intracellular molecular alterations occur not only in the ipsilateral but also in the contralateral epididymis following unilateral testicular torsion/detorsion.
Oh
Seung-June
SJ
Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, 28 Yongon-Dong, Chongno-Gu, Seoul, Korea 110-744.
Kwak
Cheol
C
Baek
Minki
M
Kim
Choung-Soo
CS
Kim
Kun Suk
KS
Choi
Hwang
H
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D004822:Epididymis / Q000473:pathology*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors