INFLUENCE OF EXPERIMENTAL VERICOCELE ON THE STRUCTURE OF TESTIS AND SERUM LEVELS OF SEX HORMONE IN RAT

Objective To observe the impact of experimental varicocele(EV) on the structure of testis and the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH) and testosterone(T) in rats. Methods Forty male adolescent-age Wistar rats were randomly divided into EV-8-week group and EV-12-week group,with 12 rats in each group;and corresponding control groups,eight in each group.An EV model was created by partially ligating the left renal vein,and a sham operation was done for the controls.The animals were killed 8 and 12 weeks,respectively.The weight of the testis was measured,its structure observed light-microscopically,and the serum levels of FSH,LH and T of varicose vein blood and renal vein were determined by radioimmunoassay. Results Compared with those of the control,the weight of testis of EV groups was significantly lower(t=2.78-11.18;P0.05,0.01).The weight of testis of rats in EV-12-goup were significantly lower than those of EV-8-week group(t=2.55,3.73;P0.05,0.01).Light-microscopically,a focal degeneration of germinal epithelium,retardation of spermatogenesis and desquamation of spermatocytes were found in the testis of the EV rats.The serum levels of FSH and LH of the EV groups were significantly increased in order compared with those of the corresponding control groups(t=3.53-9.51,P0.01),while the serum level of T decreased(t=2.52,4.40;P0.05,0.01). Conclusion Experimental varicocele can lead to the decrease of the weight of bilateral testis,pathologic lesion,and pathocrinia of genitical gland.