The effect of unilateral testicular torsion on the contralateral testicle in prepubertal Chinese hamsters

• Published in: Journal of pediatric surgery Vol. 20; no. 6; pp. 592 - 597
• Main Authors: Henderson, John A., Smey, Paul, Cohen, Marc S., Davis, Charles P., Payer, Andrew F., Parkening, Terry A., Michael M., Warren
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.1985
• Subjects: Age Factors; Animals; Antilymphocyte Serum - immunology; Autoantibodies - analysis; Biopsy; Cricetinae; Cricetulus; Female; Immunoglobulin G - analysis; Male; Rabbits; Spermatic Cord Torsion - immunology; Spermatic Cord Torsion - pathology; Spermatozoa - immunology; Testicular torsion; Testis - immunology; Testis - pathology; Testicular torsion
• ISSN: 0022-3468; 1531-5037
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3468(85)80005-1

Recent studies of experimental testicular torsion in rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs have demonstrated conflicting evidence regarding contralateral testicular damage. Those studies in which cellular damage has been found are postulated to result from an immunological mechanism whereby the blood-testis barrier is disrupted with subsequent autoantibody formation. In this study, the histologic and immunologic effects of testicular torsion on the contrateral testicle were investigated in prepubertal Chinese hamsters. Four study groups were established; (1) Left orchiectomy only, (2) sham surgery (scrotal incision), (3) 720° left testicular torsion with left orchiectomy 24 hours later, (4) 720° torsion of left testicle with detorsion after 24 hours. The initial procedure was performed at 1 month of age with subsequent biopsies of the contralateral testicle at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months after the initial procedure. Testicular tissue was examined for immunofluorescent activity using fluorescent labeled goat antihamster IgG. Positive controls were established by rabbit immunization (rabbit antihamster immunoglobulin) which was subsequently combined with fluorescent labeled goat antirabbit IgG. There was no appreciable difference in immunologic activity between control and experimental animals. Representative sections were examined histologically and no tubular damage was demonstrated and active spermatogenesis was noted at 6 months in all groups. We believe that our results support the premise that testicular torsion in the prepubertal period has no effect on the contralateral testicle.