Effects of compression/stretching of the spermatic cord and blunt dissection on testicular growth and fertility.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to investigate whether compression/stretching of the spermatic cord or blunt dissection influences testicular development and fertility. In addition, the authors evaluated whether the extents of testicular damage differ between these 2 surgical manipulations.


METHODS
Forty-four prepubertal male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (Harlan Sprague-Dawley Inc, Indianapolis, Ind) were divided into 3 groups: (1) the control group (CG) animals underwent a sham operation in the right groin, (2) the experimental group 1 (EG1) underwent compression/stretching of the right spermatic cord, and (3) the experimental group 2 (EG2) underwent dissection around the right spermatic cord structures. Testicular volumes, weights, mean seminiferous tubular diameters (MSTDs), mean testicular biopsy scores, and numbers of offspring and of pregnant females were evaluated.


RESULTS
Right (operative) and left (nonoperative) testicular volumes were smaller in the EG2 group than in the CG or EG1 groups. Left MSTDs in the EG1 and EG2 groups increased more than in the CG group. Numbers of Sertoli cells in left testes differed in the 3 groups, in the order EG1 < CG < EG2. Mean testicular biopsy scores, offspring numbers, and pregnant female numbers were no different in the 3 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Both surgical manipulations influenced testicular growth, but they did not compromise spermatogenesis or fertility in SD rats.
Choi
Seung-Eun
SE
Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-799, South Korea.
Kook
Myeong-Cherl
MC
Kim
Chong Jai
CJ
Lee
Seong-Cheol
SC
Park
Kwi-Won
KW
Jung
Sung-Eun
SE
Kim
Woo-Ki
WK
D000818:Animals; D004210:Dissection / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009929:Organ Size; D010298:Parity / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013085:Spermatic Cord / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000209:etiology