Comparison of the Effects of Vasectomy and Experimental Cryptorchidism in Rats: I. Testicular Histology

Abstract

Summary: The effects of cryptorchidism, one of the most important congenital malformations resulting with the defects in testicular structure thus infertility, is the best known subject in male reproduction. Those best known effects make the usage of cryptorchidism as a second control criteria when the effects of other male infertility reasons are attempted to be determined. Therefore the persistency or reversibility of the effects of vasectomy on testicular structure have been compared to the testicular features following experimental cryptorchidism and to the control group findings. To do this, rats were divided into 3 groups. While the control group animals were sham operated, the experimental group animals were undergone either vasectomy or experimental cryptorchidism procedures. Testicular histology of the control and experimental groups was determined using convenient staining methods at the light microscopical level.The comparison of the findings from the control and experimental groups showed that the testicular features of the vasectomized group were similar to those seen in the control group in contrast to the experimental cryptorchidism group which had irreversible testicular alterations. Results of the present study indicated the convenience of the usage of vasectomy in male contraception.Although its application rate is low, vasectomy is still an important method for male contraception. Early and late period complications and debates on the reversibility of the effects of vasectomy in testicular morphology and function are the main reasons for its low application rate (Kendrick et al., 1985; Flickinger et al., 1990).Cryptorchidism is a congenital malformation causing permanent infertility via its effects on testicles and genital tract. The persistent effects of cryptorchidism could be used as the testing criteria which may help to make interpretations about the effects of vasectomy on testicular structure. Therefore in the present study, experimental cryptorchidism was used as a permanent infertility model, and findings of the vasectomized groups were compared to both control and experimental cryptorchidism groups. Materials and MethodsFifteen 2 months old male Swiss albino rats, 125-150 g of weight, were used in the present study. While 5 rats were sham operated (control group), the rest were divided into two groups each of which consisting of 5 rats. First group rats were vasectomized unilaterally. To do this, rats were anaesthetised by ether inhalation. The operation was performed under aseptic conditions through a vertical midline abdominal incision. Each was deferens was divided between two silk ligatures approximately 1.5 cm proximal to the end of the vas. Second group was undergone unilateral experimental cryptorchidism by fixing the right testicle of each animal onto the abdominal wall. Following 3 months of experimental period, sham operated, vasectomized and cryptorchid rats were killed, and ipsilateral and contralateral testicles of each animal were obtained by laparotomy. Testicular tiss...