Examination of rat sertoli cell desmosomes and hemidesmosomes in experimental left unilateral cryptorchidism model

Cryptorchidism is a congenital disorder that occurs when the testicles don't descend into the scrotum. The most important complication of the undescended testis is the disruption of the structure of the gonads and infertility due to the inability of seminiferous tubules to mature normally. Studies have shown that cryptorchidism causes loss in germ cells. The main reasons are the degeneration of the tight connection complexes. In the present study, an experimental unilateral cryptorchidism model was created in prepubertal rats by surgical inguinoscrotal method, and the changes in Sertoli cells of cryptorchid and scrotal testicles were evaluated on the model around the desmosome and hemidesmosome structures observed in the cryptorchid testes. On the 3rd, 7th, and 14th days from the descending, hematoxylin-eosin staining and antibody staining were performed to the prepared tissues. The images were evaluated microscopically. Morphological disorders were detected in the desmosome and hemidesmosome structures of Sertoli cells in the cryptorchid testes. It was observed that alpha 6 integrin subunit and desmoglein-2 protein in cryptorchid testes was disturbed from 3rd day. It was observed that in the cryptorchid testes the germ cells were detached from the Sertoli cells and falls of the germ cells to the lumen of tubule, and visible thinning of the seminiferous tubule wall. As a result, it was concluded that cryptorchidism causes widespread degeneration in Sertoli cells, disrupts the cytoskeletal and alpha 6 integrin subunit and desmoglein-2 protein that are involved in the junctional structures, and negatively affects spermatogenesis by affecting the contralateral scrotal testicles.