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The time relationship between ipsilateral testicular ischemia and germ cell apoptosis in the contralateral testis in rat

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Abstract

Unilateral testicular ischemia-reperfusion (IR) in the rat is followed by histologic damage in the contralateral testis, which has been previously explained on immunologic grounds. There is evidence to suggest that apoptosis in the contralateral testis is involved in germ cell loss following IR injury to the testis. We examined the time-dependent effect of testicular ischemia on germ cell apoptosis in the contralateral testis in a rat. Adult Sprague–Dawley rats weighing 250–280 g, were subjected to testicular ischemia for 1, 2, 3 or 24 h. Twenty-four hours following onset of the ischemic insult, testes were harvested for immunohistochemical studies. Apoptosis was detected using TUNEL immunohistochemical assay. Testicular ischemia in rats led to histological damage, which was related to the duration of the ischemia. In the contralateral testis, the minimal damage included a decrease in number of germ cell layers, mild disorganization, and single cell apoptosis. Apoptosis in the contralateral testes increased significantly after 2, 3, and 24 h of ischemia and showed direct, time-related correlation with the duration of ischemia. We conclude that testicular ischemia causes an increase in germ cell apoptosis in the contralateral testis. The extent of apoptosis increases with the duration of the ischemia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Bnai Zion Medical Center, 47 Golomb St, P.O.B. 4940, Haifa, 31048, Israel

    Igor Sukhotnik & Jorge G. Mogilner

  2. Department of Pathology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel

    Iness Miselevich & Michael Lurie

  3. Department of Urology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel

    Ofer Nativ

  4. Section of Pediatric Surgery C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Arnold G. Coran

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  1. Igor Sukhotnik
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  2. Iness Miselevich
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  3. Michael Lurie
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  4. Ofer Nativ
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  5. Arnold G. Coran
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  6. Jorge G. Mogilner
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Correspondence to Igor Sukhotnik.

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Sukhotnik, I., Miselevich, I., Lurie, M. et al. The time relationship between ipsilateral testicular ischemia and germ cell apoptosis in the contralateral testis in rat. Ped Surgery Int 21, 512–516 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-005-1477-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-005-1477-7

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