Effects of experimental spermatic cord injury on cord and testis in rat model

İNGİLİZCE ÖZET Effects of Experimental Spermatic Cord Injury on Cord and Testis in Rat Model Spermatic cord is the most important inguinal structure to be protected from injury in inguino-scrotal region operations. It is known that surgical damage to the spermatic cord and its components also causes testicular damage and lead to infertility. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of different types of vas deferens injury on vas deferens, testis and epididymis in rats. Thirty four prepubertal male Sprague Dawley rats used in the study and were divided into 4 groups; digital compression, traction, incision and control groups. In digital compression group, the right vas deferens were released and the pressure was applied between the two fingers for 4 minutes with a warm wet sponge. In the traction group after the right vas deferens were released, traction was applied with a weight of 10 g for 4 minutes. In the control group no surgical model was applied, only vas deferens and testicular presence was observed. In the incision group, the right vas deferens were released and then a complete incision was made from the middle of the vas deferens without damaging the testicular artery and vein. The vas deferens was repaired in two directions with two sutures. Twenty eight days later, all animals were sacrificed. Cell changes that occurred in the right testis, epididymis and vas deferens were evaluated by macroscopic and microscopic. In traction group has least number of rats who have had sperm present in vas deferens (3/9) (p=0,027) and there was significiant decrease of inner diameter of vas deferens (p=0,009). In incision group, vas deferens muscle thickness per external diameter ratio showed significant decrease (p=0,034). There was no statistically significant difference in mean seminiferous tubule diameter and right testis volume within groups. When the right and left testis volumes were compared in the incision group, the difference was significantly decreased in the right testis (that the procedure applied) (p = 0.008). According to these findings, the presence of sperm in the vas deferens lumen is significantly affected by the traction applied to the cord during operation. The presence of sperm in case of the incision group shows the importance of post-injury repair. During inguinal surgeries care must be taken to protect vas deferens especially from traction. Key words: Spermatic cord injury, digital compression, traction, incision, fertility, rat