Histological changes in rat testicles after short-term ischaemia

A temporary pinching off of the spermatic cord was carried out in 100 male Wistar rats in order to evaluate the effect of a limited period of ischaemia on the testicular parenchyma. The animals were divided into four groups of equal number, and a certain period of ischaemia was chosen (15, 30, 45 and 60 min). The histological investigation of the testicle parenchyma was performed 2 months after the operation, the contralateral testicle serving as control. Already an ischaemia of 15 min leads to a statistically significant, irreversible damage of 53.5% of the seminiferous tubulus (p = 0.001). The degree of the damage does not increase up to an ischaemic period of 1 h. Since rat testicles have proven to be a model for the judgement of human fertility, operations on testicles which are combined with a temporary ischaemia of this organ, should be ended within a few minutes.