[Influence of burying testis in inguinal region on spermatogenesis in rabbit to repair scrotum defect].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of burying testis in inguinal pocket on spermatogenesis.


METHODS
Sixty New Zealand rabbits of 6-8 months old included 36 males and 24 females, weighing 2.5-2.7 kg. The male rabbits were randomly divided into the experimental group (n=18) and the control group (n=18). The model of repairing skin defect of scrotum were established by burying testes in inguinal region subcutaneously in the experimental group. The rabbits were not treated in the control group. The sperms were collected and the surface temperature of testis was measured in both groups after 8 weeks. Testes biopsies were harvested from 6 rabbits of 2 groups randomly respectively. The apoptosis of spermatogenic cells was detected with TUNEL. The other 12 male rabbits in two groups were fed respectively with female rabbits to observe the fertility.


RESULTS
The semen density and the spermid activity ratio were (237.3 +/- 39.7) x 10(9)/L and 76.9% +/- 3.8% in the control group, and were (4.7 +/- 2.7) x 10(9)/L and 0 in the experimental group respectively; showing statistically significant difference between two groups (P< 0.05). The average superficial temperature of testes was (38.02 +/- 0.36) degrees C in the experimental group and (36.15 +/- 0.64) degrees C in the control group (P < 0.05). TUNEL results showed: The spermatogenic epithelium became thin and obvious apoptotic spermatogenic cells were found in experimental group; the spermatogenic epithelium was normal and few apoptotic spermatogenic cells were found in the control group. The apoptotic index (A1) was 89.69% +/- 3.76% in the experimental group and 7.73% +/- 4.95% in the control group (P < 0.05). The Pairing results showed that the female rabbits pairing with male rabbits of the experimental group were all not pregnant, and those of the control group were all pregnant (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
As the same as the scrotum was reconstructed with skin flaps, it will induce the rabbit infertility that the testes were buried in inguinal region subcutaneously to repair defect of scrotum skin. The main reason is the excessive apoptosis of spermatogenic cell by the high testes environmental temperature.
Wang
Dali
D
Department of Plastic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi Guizhou, 563003, PR China. daliwangzy@sina.com
Sun
Guangfeng
G
Wei
Zairong
Z
Cui
Hongwang
H
Li
Li
L
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D012611:Scrotum / Q000473:pathology; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000166:cytology*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000601:surgery*