The Alterations of Cellular Metabolism in the Contralateral Testis Following Spermatic Cord Torsion in Rats

Cellular metabolic study was performed on the contralateral testis after torsion to delineate early testicular changes. In 9-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats the left testicle was rotated and fixed to the scrotum for 3, 8 and 24 hours in 3 groups (I, II and III). Each group was divided into 3 subgroups (a, b and c) by the length of detorsion of 0, 4 hours and 14 days. We measured adenosine triphosphate, total adenosine nucleotides and adenylate energy charge of the contralateral testis by high performance liquid chromatography. Compared to controls, no subgroups showed differences in the histological parameters. Also in subgroups Ia, Ib, Ic and IIa none of the metabolic parameters were significantly altered. However, subgroups IIb and IIc, and group III and its subgroups showed significantly decreased levels of all metabolic parameters. Therefore, it appears that unilateral testicular torsion (greater than 8 hours) and detorsion affect the contralateral testicular metabolism without gross histological changes in rats, and these changes seem to be reversible in terms of cellular recoverability because the maximally decreased level of adenylate energy charge among all subgroups is only 13% compared to controls. These findings suggest that some systemic mechanisms rather than an immunological or local inflammatory process is involved in this early period after torsion.