The Functional and Histological Changes Following Orthotopic Testicular Transplantation in Castrated Experimental Rats

Jung, Se Il

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was performed to evaluate the functional and histological changes following the orthotopic testicular transplantation. For orthotopic testicular transplantation, a new operative microsurgical techniques were applied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight (24) recipient rats were castrated and microsurgically removed testes from adult rats were utilized for orthotopic transplantation, respectively. These animals were divided into following three groups: 1) the control group (n=6); 2) the castrated group (n=6); 3) the orthotopic testis transplantation group (n=12). The levels of LH, FSH and testosterone were measured using radioimmunoassay. In order to identify the survival of testis, testicular scans were performed. Histopathological examinations were added. RESULTS: The following results were obtained: 1. Histopathologic findings. Excluding 2 transplanted rats which demonstrated ischemic necrosis findings, the testes of other 10 transplantated rats showed almost normal histologic findings. 2. Hormonal levels. There was no significnat statistical difference between the control group and the 10 successfully transplanted animals. 3. Testicular scan. Testicular scan was effective to differentiate the successfully transplanted testis from the testis with ischemic necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that orthotopic transplantation has higher possibility of graft survival, and testicular scan is a effective method to confirm the survival of transplanted testis. In addtion, newly developed orthotopic transplantation animal models could be used for hypothalamus-pituitary-testis axis research. The orthotopic transplantation technique would be used for the new therapeutic method for congenital and acquired hypogonadism patients, too.