Subsequent testicular histology: fertility and fecundity of rats subjected to unilateral incarcerated inguinal hernia during the prepubertal period.

An experimental study was designed to evaluate subsequent ipsilateral and contralateral testicular histologies, fertility, and fecundity of rats subjected to unilateral incarcerated inguinal hernia during the prepubertal period. Three study groups each containing 12 rats (28-day-old) were established. In group 1 the rats were only anesthetized. In group 2 the rats had undergone a sham operation. Left-sided incarcerated inguinal hernias were created in rats constituting group 3. After the rats had reached 4 months of age, each male rat was housed with two known fertile female rats for 3 weeks. Male rats were then castrated and the testes were evaluated histologically. Female rats were followed for 30 additional days, and the number of females impregnanted and the number of rats given birth to by each female rat were recorded. Left-sided incarcerated inguinal hernia has caused a lessened testicular/body weight ratio in the left testes, and histological deteriorations in both left and right testes that were expressed through diminished mean seminiferous tubular diameter and mean testicular biopsy scores. The fertility rate was not affected, but the number of rats produced by each male rat was lesser after having the incarcerated inguinal hernia. Unilateral incarcerated inguinal hernia during prepubertal period resulted in deteriorated ipsilateral and contralateral testicular histology and diminished the exocrine function of testes in rats.