The effects of orchidopexy and orchidectomy on testes of rats subjected to ipsilateral abdominal testis with vas deferens obstruction

An experimental study was planned to evaluate and compare the effects of orchidopexy and orchidectomy on the testes of rats subjected to unilateral abdominal testis with vas deferens obstruction. Four groups were established. Rats in the control group underwent a sham procedure. While the testis was maintained in the abdomen with the vas deferens ligated for 8 weeks in group 2, rats in groups 3 and 4 underwent orchidopexy or orchidectomy after 4 weeks. Remaining testes were harvested at the end of the 8-week period. Testis and body weights were obtained during harvest. Samples were evaluated through DNA flow cytometry, and percentages of haploid cells were determined. Groups were compared through unpaired t-test, and p-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. All three treatments had decreased testis weight over body weight values of ipsilateral testes. Ipsilateral orchidectomy increased the value among contralateral testes. However, none of the groups had a contralateral testicular value less than the sham-operated group. All three treatments decreased the percentage of haploid cells among ipsilateral testes, but only an abdominal testis was associated with a decrease in the percentage of haploid cells among contralateral testes. Maintaining a testis with an obstructed vas deferens in the abdomen for 8 weeks damages both ipsilateral and contralateral testes. Orchidopexy, while showing amelioration of the ipsilateral testis, spares the contralateral testis as well as orchidectomy. Orchidopexy for an undescended testis with vas deferens obstruction is a rational approach.