An experimental study of the effect of two distinct surgical techniques of orchiopexy on spermatogenesis and testicular damage in cryptorchid testes.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of two different techniques of testicular fixation on testicular function.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
Surgical animal laboratory at an academic medical center.


METHODS
Sixteen mature golden hamsters underwent classic transfixation orchiopexy and true dartos pouch orchiopexy.


METHODS
Classic transfixation orchiopexy (CTO) involved transfixation of the testicular wall at two different points and fixation of the dartos fascia. True dartos pouch orchiopexy (TDPO) involved creating a window in the dartos fascia, passage of the testicle, and closure of the window from both sides of the testicle.


METHODS
Flow cytometric separation of testicular cells into haploid, diploid, and tetraploid fractions for histogram analysis.


RESULTS
A significant decrease in testicular weight was observed in 6 out of 16 animals undergoing CTO. Diploid cells comprised the main cell fraction, and almost no haploid or tetraploid cells were observed, while in the 16 animals undergoing TDPO no change from the control pattern was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
This experimental work supports our clinical impression that TDPO should replace CTO as the method of choice for the treatment of an undescended testicle in children.
Lotan
Gad
G
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel. lotan@asaf.health.gov.il
Golan
Rachel
R
Efrati
Yigal
Y
Vigodner
Margarita
M
Lewin
Lawrence M
LM
Shochat
Lea
L
Klin
Baruch
B
D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000379:methods