Histological effects of unilateral spermatic cord torsion without removal of the ipsilateral necrotic testis on the contralateral testis in rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effect of retarded removal of the unilateral necrotic testis after long-time (> 24 h) spermatic cord torsion on the contralateral testis in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-three male SD rats aged 21 -42 days were divided into a sham-operation group (n = 11), a torsion-reservation group (n = 12) and a torsion-orchiectomy group (n = 10). The rats of the sham-operation group received dartos pouch orchidopexy on the left testis, while those of the latter two groups underwent 720 degrees unilateral spermatic cord torsion on the left side. Ninety-six hours later, the rats of the torsion-reservation group received detorsion with the ipsilateral testis preserved, while those of the torsion-orchiectomy group underwent orchiectomy. Three months after operation, blood samples were obtained from the rats for measurement of serum testosterone and antisperm antibodies by ELISA, and meanwhile testes and epididymides were harvested for determination of the volumes of various structures and the diameter of seminiferous tubules with stereological methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences in the level of serum testosterone among the three groups. Anti-sperm antibody positive was found in only 1 animal in the torsion-reservation group. The Leydig cell nuclei in the contralateral testis appeared larger in the torsion groups than in the sham-operation group. Marked morphological changes were observed in 1, 3 and 0 of the animals in the sham-operation, torsion-reservation and torsion-orchiectomy group, respectively, mainly including atrophy of seminiferous tubules and reduced number of spermatogenic cells. The volume of the contralateral testis was increased by 19% and 21% in the torsion-reservation and torsion-orchiectomy group, respectively, in comparison with that in the sham-operation group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the volume of seminiferous tubules of the contralateral testis among the sham-operation, torsion-reservation and torsion-orchiectomy groups ([1.15 +/- 0.07], [1.30 +/- 0.04] and [1.35 +/- 0.05] cm3). The volume of the interstitial tissue was significantly increased in the latter two groups ([0.36 +/- 0.02 and 0.34 +/- 0.03] cm3) as compared with the former ([0.25 +/- 0.02] cm3) (P < 0.05). The diameters of the seminiferous tubules exhibited no significant differences among the three groups ([226.00 +/- 7.00], [223.00 +/- 6.00] and [221.00 +/- 3.0] microm).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Long-time unilateral spermatic cord torsion may result in compensatory hypertrophy of the contralateral testis, and orchiectomy does not significantly affect the histology of the contralateral testis and epididymis.</p>

Testosterone-induced spermatogenic impairment is associated with looser arrangement of spermatogenic cells in rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine whether testosterone-induced intra-testicular testosterone withdrawal and therefore spermatogenic impairment is associated with looser arrangement of spermatogenic cells in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adult male SD rats received intramuscular injection of testosterone undecanoate at 19 mg/(kg x 15 d) for 130 days, and then testicular tissue blocks were obtained for the preparation of methacrylate resin-embedded sections and observation of the changes in testicular histology.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Apart from such changes as impaired spermiogenesis and spermiation, apparently looser arrangement of spermatogenic cells was seen in 11.5% of the seminiferous tubule profiles, with radial cracks (empty spaces) running towards the tubule lumen being formed between lines, bundles or groups of spermatogenic cells (mainly spermatids and spermatocytes).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Looser arrangement of spermatogenic cells is one of the key histological changes resulting from intra-testicular testosterone withdrawal in rats.</p>

Oral paroxetine for premature ejaculation: a randomized controlled study / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To validate the therapeutic efficacy of paroxetine in the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty PE patients up to the inclusion criteria were equally randomized to an experimental and a control group. We observed all the patients for 4 weeks and recorded the baseline data on intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) and sexual satisfaction scores, followed by oral medication of paroxetine at 20 mg/d for the patients in the experimental group and placebo for the controls. Thirty days after the treatment, we again recorded IELT and sexual satisfaction scores of the patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the treatment, the experimental group showed significantly prolonged IELT ([5.75 +/- 1.24] min) and increased sexual satisfaction score (6.4 +/- 1.2) as compared with the baseline data ([0.89 +/- 0.21] min and [2.7 +/- 0.9]) (P < 0.01). The control group exhibited no significant differences before and after the medication either in the mean IELT or in sexual satisfaction scores ([1.06 +/- 0.28] min vs [0.97 +/- 0.18] min and 3.6 +/- 1.3 vs 3.1 +/- 1.1, P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Oral medication of paroxetine at 20 mg/d for 30 days could improve IELT and sexual satisfaction in PE patients.</p>

Ultrasonographic changes in the epididymis after long-term vasectomy / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the ultrasonographic changes in the epididymis after long-term vasectomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four patients with a history of vasectomy for more than 10 years (vasectomy group) and another 60 without vasectomy (control group) were included in the study. The patients were referred to scrotal ultrasonography for epididymal indications. The shape, thickness and internal echoes of the head, body and tail of the epididymis were observed with high frequency ultrasonography (HFU), and the blood flow changes were observed with color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) or color Doppler power imaging (CDPI).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Significantly higher rates were found in the vasectomy group than in the control: thickened body (64.1% vs 15.0%) and tail (78.1% vs 51.7%) of the epididymis, thickened head, body and tail (42.2% vs 8.3%) of the epididymis, and epididymal tubular ectasia (54.7% vs 8.3%). However, increased blood flow in the epididymis was seen at a significantly lower rate in the vasectomy group than in the control (15.6% vs 61.7%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ultrasonographic changes in the epididymis after long-term vasectomy were mainly epididymis thickening and epididymal tubular ectasia, mostly with no or diminished blood flow in the epididymis.</p>