title: The Effect of a Unilateral Orchiectomy before Gonadotoxic Treatment on the Contralateral Testis in Adult and Prepubertal Rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have shown that the removal of one testis leads to a compensatory mechanism in the contralateral one, but this was species and age dependent. The aim of this study was to check whether this compensation would still occur after the combination of a unilateral orchiectomy and gonadotoxic treatment, since this resembles the clinical situation of patients who have to undergo highly toxic cancer treatment and therefore choose to cryopreserve a testicular biopsy for fertility restoration purposes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sprague Dawley rats underwent either unilateral orchiectomy, gonadotoxic busulfan treatment, the combination of both or served as fertile control. A comparison of the compensatory effects was made between adult and prepubertal treated rats. Mating experiments were performed, testosterone levels were followed-up, testicular weight was recorded and histology was analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adult treated rats were able to restore fertility spontaneously in all treatment groups. On the other hand, 30% of the rats that underwent a unilateral orchiectomy and gonadotoxic treatment at prepubertal age showed hampered spermatogenesis, low testosterone levels, decreased testicular weights and were not able to reproduce.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study emphasizes the need of fertility preservation strategies in prepubertal patients before gonadotoxic interventions.
authors: Biology of the Testis, Research Laboratory for Reproduction, Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Rombaut
authors: Biology of the Testis, Research Laboratory for Reproduction, Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Katrien
authors: K
authors: Faes
authors: Biology of the Testis, Research Laboratory for Reproduction, Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Ellen
authors: E
authors: Goossens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002066:Busulfan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000601:surgery*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D002066:Busulfan