Ultrasonically induced, in vivo morphological damage in mouse testicular tissue.

Mouse testes were exposed in vivo to 1 MHz continuous wave ultrasonic energy for 30 sec at spatial peak intensities of either 2 or 5 W/cm2. Following exposure they were surgically removed at times ranging from immediate (within 60 sec) to 63 days, and histologically prepared for optical microscopy examination. The observed alterations can be classified according to the number and type of affected cell layers in the tubule. Leydig cells were unaffected, and some alterations differed from those previously seen at higher ultrasonic exposure intensities or at much longer exposure times.