Epididymal changes associated with cryptorchidism in rats.

AIM: To investigate the effect of a new mechanically induced cryptorchidism model on rat epididymal histology.

METHODS

Eighteen 21-day-old Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups of 6 animals each. Animals of Groups 1 and 2 were made unilaterally cryptorchid by closing the left inguinal canal, while Group 3 (controls), sham operated. At Day 60 (Group 1) and Day 90 (Group 2 and 3), the rats were sacrificed. The epididymides of both sides were weighed, and the diameter of the epididymal tubules, the height of the tubular epithelium and the presence of fibrosis of the caput epididymides were examined under a light-microscope.

RESULTS

The cryptorchid epididymis had a significantly lower weight increase than the contralateral ones and the controls, but the epithelial height and diameter of caput epididymal tubules were not significantly different. Fibrosis was not observed.

CONCLUSION

The authors proposed that this new model is a convenient method to evaluate the epididymal changes associated with experimental cryptorchidism.