Effects of adrenal and renal metabolites on testicular temperature and morphology in varicocele

Abstract

The aim of this study was to research for the validity of the hypothesis, which claims that the reflux of renal and adrenal metabolites by internal spermatic vein through testis causes morphological changes. The study was planned for three groups as sham [Group I, n:5], experimantally induced left varicocele (Group II, n:7), experimantally induced left varicocele + left adrenalectomy + left nephrectomy [Group III: n:9), containing 21 adolescent rats, totally. Ten weeks after the operation the wheights of vesicula seminalis, epididiym, testis and intratesticular-intraperitoneal temperatures of each rat were measured. Additionally epididimal sperm aspiration was performed and testicular biopsy specimens were obtained for histological examination. The differences between intraabdominal and intratesticular temperatures (delta T) were statistically significant between the groups II-III and I (p < 0.05). Histological examination showed that the germ cell desquamation was present in 5 (71.4%) and 1 (11.1%) of the rats in-groups II and III, respectively. Also, Leydig cell changes were more prominent in groups II and III than group I. The results of our study have shown that although elevated intratesticular temperature was responsible for the morphological alteration of testicular tissue in varicocele, some adrenal and/or renal factors also contribute to this process.