Tolerance of Ischemia by Testis of Rats - An Experimental Study

Abstract

An experimental study was undertaken by subjecting the testis of rats to total ischemia and studying the biopsy specimens obtained serially upto 135 minutes of ischemia. The specimens were examined under light microscope for histopathological changes. The aim was to obtain a guideline of tolerable ischemia time of the various tissues of the testis with maintenance of structural and functional integrity. It was observed that the first signs of irreversible damage i.e., marginal clumping of chromatin appeared in some of the germinal epithelial cells 60 minutes after induction of ischemia, whereas these changes occurred much later in Sertoli and Leydig cells. It is recommended that ischemia time of testis in clinical situation be restricted to lesser than this period to maintain the structural and functional integrity.