Morphological and Immunological Observations in Experimentally Induced Torsion of Testis in Rats

Abstract

In an experimentally established model of torsion of the testis, morphological and immunological observations were evaluated in 180 Wistar rats. Torsion of the testis were carried out to observe in animals the biological phenomenon that naturally occurs in man. The effect of the twisted testis on the contralateral testis was carefully checked. The morphological observations revealed serious damage to the seminiferous tubules in the contralateral testis. In four rats, persistent infertility was observed as an effect of torsion. The infertility was confirmed by total atrophy of seminiferous epithelium in testis section. The cell-binding ability of sera obtained from rats at different times after torsion were studied by cell-binding radioimmunoassay with different types of germinal cells. The presence of autoantibodies to epididymal spermatozoa was revealed in most cases, being a secondary effect of the thus-far unknown, nonspecific factors responsible for damage of the contralateral testis.

Incidence of Low-Grade Testicular Injury in Orchidectomy Specimens Post-testicular Torsion

“…Autoimmune sympathetic orchidopathia 1,2,15 whereby the ruptured hematotesticular barrier incites antisperm antibody formation that damages the contralateral testis, based on predominantly animal studies, is accepted by many as the reason for abnormal contralateral testicular histology, semen analysis, and subsequent subfertility seen after testicular torsion. 1,2,16 A few human 2,15,17 and more animal studies 1,[18][19][20][21][22][23] have detected antibodies to different antigens including spermatozoa, 15,18,19,21 Leydig cells, 17 and seminiferous tubules. 22 The presence of the damaged ipsilateral testis is thought to provide ongoing stimulus for autoimmune destruction of the contralateral testis.…”

Effects of Unilateral Testicular Torsion on the Blood Flow of Contralateral Testis: An Experimental Study on Dogs

“…Hormonal, biochemical, histopathological, immunologic and vasculogenic studies have been performed but the results differ widely and the contralateral changes are still obscure. Attempts have been made to explain the effects of torsion on the contralateral testis by immunologic (1)(2)(3)(4)(5), ischaemic (neurovascular) (6-8), reperfusional injury (9, 10), and hormonal mechanisms (11) as well as by an effect of acrosomal enzymes (12).…”