Effect of Unilateral Iatrogenic Torsion onContralateral Testis inRat, Prepubertal and Postpubertal.

PURPOSE: The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of hemicastration and age at hemicastration on the subsequent contralateral testis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 64 Wistar-derived male rats divided randomly in 4 groups. Group 1 named immature intervention, group 2 immature control, group 3 mature intervention and group 4mature control. In group 1, rats hemicastrated at 30 days of age (prepubertal). In group 2 sham surgery (midscrotal incision) was done at same age. In group 3 rats hemicastrated at 70 days of age (postpubertal) and in group 4 sham surgery was done at same age. 20 days after first surgery, contralateral orchiectomy was donein intervention groups and random orchiectomy (left or right) was donein control groups. Blood sampling for evaluation of serum testosterone was performed just before second surgery.

RESULTS: Testis weight (1692 ± 26.7 in Group 1 vs 1375 ± 39.7 in Group 2; P< 0.001 and 1760 ± 26.6 in Group 3 vs 1425 ± 44.9 in Group 4; P< 0.001) and the mean testicular weight (mg) per 100 g of body weight (735.8 ± 82.3 in Group 1 vs 634.8 ± 84.8 in Group 2; P = 0.005 and 652.4 ± 61.4 in Group 3 vs 572.6 ± 97.7 in Group 4; P = 0.03) was greater in hemicastrated rats. These parameters was greater in prepubertal group than postpubertal hemicastrated rats. There was no appreciable difference in serum testosterone levels in 4 groups (P = 0.77).

CONCLUSION: Our research demonstrated that hemicastration resulted in compensatory hypertrophy of the remaining testis and it decreased as the animals aged. Hemicastration does not lead to reduction in serum testosterone levels and remaining testis can retrieve a normal serum testosterone level.