Mechanism of damage to the contralateral testis in rats with an ischaemic testis.

A degenerating ischaemic rat testis produces damage to its contralateral testis. When ischaemic testes were grafted or injected as a homogenate for a week into littermate rats there was considerable damage to host testes. This damage was caused by an immunological response, demonstrated as an increase in cytotoxicity of host serum which increased immunofluorescence, particularly of the membrana propria, which had become thickened. Manipulation of the testis and its blood supply was sufficient to cause spermatogenic damage and initiate an immunological response. These results indicate that viable early torted testes must have their torsion corrected and be anchored in the scrotum, but if the testis is ischaemic and non-viable it should be removed to avoid damage to the contralateral testis.