The effect of the genitofemoral nerve division on the contralateral descended testis in the unilateral cryptorchidism model

Abstract

It is widely accepted that there are degenerative changes and decreased spermatogenesis in the contralateral descended testis (CDT) in unilateral undescended testis (UUDT). While some investigators have postulated that the mechanism may be related to primary (congenital) or secondary (autoimmune, vascular, and neural) events, the exact mechanism of the damage to the CDT is still unknown. The present study was planned to investigate the role of the genitofemoral nerve (GFN) on the changes in the CDT. Forty male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups of 10 each. During the newborn period a UUDT model was created and at the age of 30 days ipsilateral GFN division was done (group A). In addition, UUDT with intact GFN (group B), divided right GFN with bilateral scrotal testes (group C), and control (group D) groups were formed. When the animals reached early adulthood, they were killed and the testes were removed. Mean seminiferous-tubular diameter (STD) and germinal-ephitelium maturity was determined using modified Johnson testicular biopsy scores (TBS). The mean STD and TBS of the study groups did not show any differences suggesting that ipsilateral division of the GFN has no effect on the CDT in the UUDT model.