Histologic and molecular changes in the ipsilateral and contralateral epididymides of the rat in response to unilateral testicular torsion followed by detorsion.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the histologic and molecular changes in the ipsilateral and contralateral epididymides in response to unilateral testicular torsion followed by detorsion.

DESIGN

Controlled experimental study using rats.

SETTING

Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

ANIMAL(S): Thirty-five, 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats: six experimental groups and a sham-operated control group.

INTERVENTION(S): Testes of male rats were subjected to torsion for 10 minutes. At 0, 1, 4, 8, 24 hours and 1 week after detorsion, ipsilateral and contralateral epididymides were harvested. Microscopic examination and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining was performed. The percentage of apoptotic ducts in the epididymis was determined by counting 100 duct cross-sections of the head and the tail of the epididymis of each specimen.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Morphologic change, including in situ apoptosis, of the ductal epithelium was evaluated.

RESULT(S): There was no evidence of morphologic or apoptotic changes in the 0- or 1-hour detorsion groups. However, enlargement of the interstitial fibrous tissue was found 8 and 24 hours after detorsion and marked degeneration of ductal epithelium was observed at 1 week in both the ipsilateral and contralateral epididymides. Apoptosis was first observed at 4 hours after detorsion, and the percentage of apoptotic ducts was significantly increased at 8 hours, peaked at 24 hours, and slightly decreased at 1 week in both the ipsilateral and contralateral epididymides.

CONCLUSION(S): Both morphologic changes and intracellular molecular alterations occur not only in the ipsilateral but also in the contralateral epididymis following unilateral testicular torsion/detorsion.