[Effects of experimental varicocele on the testosterone level in the serum and testis of rats].

OBJECTIVE

To study the effects of experimental varicocele (VC) on the serum testosterone (T) and intratesticular testosterone in adolescent rats.

METHODS

A VC rat model was established by partial ligation of the left kidney vein in 20 SD rats, and another 20 were included in a sham operation group as controls. At 4 and 8 weeks, the concentrations of the serum T and intratesticular T were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The testis tissues were homogenized and the extract liquid taken for RIA.

RESULTS

Compared with the controls, the level of serum T declined at 4 and 8 weeks in the VC group, but not significantly (P > 0.05), so was that of bilateral intratesticular T at 4 weeks, and with statistical significance at 8 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Within 8 weeks, experimental VC could reduce the level of bilateral intratesticular T, but not that of serum T. Varicocele could damage Leydig cells.