%0 Journal Article %A Khayat Nouri, Mir-Hadi %A Safavy, Seyed Esmaeel %T Study of apoptosis in epididymal tissue after unilateral experimental cryptorchidism in adult male rat %J Medical Sciences Journal of Islamic Azad University %V 18 %N 4 %U http://tmuj.iautmu.ac.ir/article-1-167-en.html %R %D 2008 %K Cryptorchidism, Apoptosis, Epididymis, Adult rat, %X Background: In most mammalian species, the temperature of the testis is a few degrees lower than abdominal temperature, and this cooler temperature has been shown to be essential to maintain an optimal environment for spermatogenesis and sperm fertility. The aim of this study was to assess apoptosis in epididymal tissue after unilateral experimental cryptorchidism in adult male rat. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, adult male wistar rats (200-250 gr) were divided into 15 groups of 8 animals each. Seven groups became unilaterally experimental cryptorchidism by fixation of right testis to abdomen wall. The epididymis (head, body and tail) of seven experimental groups was dissected 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 30 and 60 days after operation, respectively. In 8th to 14th groups, as a sham after incision, testis were replaced from scrotum to abdominal cavity and then returned to scrotum. 15th group, as a control group, didn’t receive any operation. After sampling and fixation in saline formalin 10%, tissue processing and preparing histological section and staining with tunnel method, apoptosis were studied. Results: Tunnel staining showed apoptosis in epithelial cells of epididyms in groups with experimental cryptorchidism. Peak of apoptotic cells was observed in 3 and 6 days after operation. There were no significant changes between sham and control groups. Conclusion: Our results showed that experimental cryptorchidism induces apoptosis probably via heat and oxidative stress in the epididymal epithelial cells. %> http://tmuj.iautmu.ac.ir/article-1-167-en.pdf %P 225-231 %& 225 %! %9 %L A-10-1-167 %+ %G eng %@ 1023-5922 %[ 2008