Testicular torsion and its effects on the spermatogenic cycle in the contralateral testis of the rat.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of unilateral testicular torsion on the contralateral testis with respect to the stages of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium (CSE). Fifty-five male Wistar rats, 60 days old, were used. The animals were divided into 11 groups. Groups 1-5 were subjected to unilateral testicular torsion from 3 to 48 h, followed by detorsion. Groups 6-10 had unilateral orchiectomies after unilateral testicular torsion for 3 to 48 h. Animals constituting group 11 served as the control sham-operated group. All animals were killed after 2 months. The percentage of affected tubules (tubules showing pathological changes) in the contralateral testis was estimated based on the CSE stages. In the torsion/detorsion group, the percentage of affected tubules was significantly greater (58.6%) than in torsion/orchiectomy group (48.0%). Stages VI-XI of the spermatogenic cycle were the most affected when compared with the rest of the stages in each experimental group (P <0.05). These results show that stages VI-XI of the spermatogenic cycle, the stages associated with low antioxidant capacities, are the most sensitive to the effects of testicular torsion on the contralateral testis.