Unilateral torsion of spermatic cord in men: effect on Leydig cell

In our previous studies, we reported that short-term unilateral spermatic cord torsion had no adverse effect on the germ cells and the Sertoli cell in the contralateral testis of men. As an extension of our earlier investigations on the testicular pathophysiology in humans after unilateral spermatic cord torsion, the present study was undertaken to assess the Leydig cell function employing both fine structural and morphometric analysis in patients with short-term spermatic cord torsion. Bilateral testicular biopsy samples obtained from 4 men (15-19 years) with short-term unilateral torsion of the spermatic cord and from a control group of 6 men (15-40 years) were used in the present investigation. No appreciable difference in the Leydig morphology was noted between the biopsy samples from control and the contralateral testes. This was substantiated by morphometric analysis. The present study clearly indicates that patients with unilateral torsion of the spermatic cord may not essentially have bilateral testicular abnormalities, as suggested by the previous investigators. This report, thus lends further support to our earlier contention that alteration in microcirculation is quite likely the earliest and possibly the most significant contributor to the contralateral testicular damage in man after ipsilateral spermatic cord torsion.