title: The time relationship between ipsilateral testicular ischemia and germ cell apoptosis in the contralateral testis in rat.
abstract: Unilateral testicular ischemia-reperfusion (IR) in the rat is followed by histologic damage in the contralateral testis, which has been previously explained on immunologic grounds. There is evidence to suggest that apoptosis in the contralateral testis is involved in germ cell loss following IR injury to the testis. We examined the time-dependent effect of testicular ischemia on germ cell apoptosis in the contralateral testis in a rat. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-280 g, were subjected to testicular ischemia for 1, 2, 3 or 24 h. Twenty-four hours following onset of the ischemic insult, testes were harvested for immunohistochemical studies. Apoptosis was detected using TUNEL immunohistochemical assay. Testicular ischemia in rats led to histological damage, which was related to the duration of the ischemia. In the contralateral testis, the minimal damage included a decrease in number of germ cell layers, mild disorganization, and single cell apoptosis. Apoptosis in the contralateral testes increased significantly after 2, 3, and 24 h of ischemia and showed direct, time-related correlation with the duration of ischemia. We conclude that testicular ischemia causes an increase in germ cell apoptosis in the contralateral testis. The extent of apoptosis increases with the duration of the ischemia.
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Bnai Zion Medical Center, P.O.B. 4940, Haifa 31048, Israel. igor-dr@internet-zahav.net
authors: Igor
authors: I
authors: Sukhotnik
authors: Iness
authors: I
authors: Miselevich
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Lurie
authors: Ofer
authors: O
authors: Nativ
authors: Arnold G
authors: AG
authors: Coran
authors: Jorge G
authors: JG
authors: Mogilner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007511:Ischemia / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors