Effects of local and sustained release of FGF, IGF, and GH on germ cells in unilateral undescended testis in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of the local release of fibroblast growth factor (FGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), and growth hormone (GH) on a germ cell population of ipsilateral undescended and contralateral descended testes of rats with a surgically created unilateral abdominal testis for 12 weeks and after the application of growth factors after orchidopexy.


METHODS
Forty 4-week old male Wistar albino rats were divided into 5 groups as follows: group 1, sham; group 2, gelatin; group 3, FGF; group 4, IGF; and group 5, GH. In the sham group, the right testis was exposed and sutured with 5-0 silk sutures. In groups 2-5, a right intra-abdominal testis was surgically created. After 12 weeks, orchidopexy was performed, and 1 cm(2) gelatin films were sutured to the right testes, either unloaded (group 2), or containing 2.5 microg FGF (group 3), 5 microg IGF (group 4), or 5 microg GH (group 5). After 30 days, both testes were removed for histopathologic investigation and DNA flow cytometry. The mean seminiferous tubular diameters (MSTDs), mean testicular biopsy scores (MTBSs), and percentages of haploid (1n) cells were calculated.


RESULTS
Ipsilateral MSTD and MTBS significantly decreased in the gelatin and FGF groups compared with the sham, IGF, and GH groups. Contralateral MSTDs and MTBSs did not differ among groups. The haploid cell percentage significantly decreased in the ipsilateral and contralateral testes of the gelatin group compared with the sham, FGF, IGF, and GH groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Local release of IGF and GH resulted in the preservation of germ cell histology in the ipsilateral testes of rats with a surgically created unilateral undescended testis for 12 weeks and after orchidopexy. The administration of IGF, GH, and FGF increased the haploid germ cell population in both ipsilateral undescended and contralateral descended testes.
Bingol-Kologlu
Meltem
M
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. kologlu@medicine.ankara.edu.tr
Bahadir
G Berktug
GB
Vargun
Rahsan
R
Ilkay
Hande
H
Bagriacik
E Umit
EU
Yolbakan
Sultan
S
Guven
Cengiz
C
Endogan
Tugba
T
Hasirci
Nesrin
N
Dindar
Huseyin
H
D000818:Animals; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000378:metabolism*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
D013002:Somatomedins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D013006:Growth Hormone