Effects of Local and Sustained Release of FGF, IGF, and GH on Germ Cells in Unilateral Undescended Testis in Rats

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effects of the local release of fibroblast growth factor (FGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), and growth hormone (GH) on a germ cell population of ipsilateral undescended and contralateral descended testes of rats with a surgically created unilateral abdominal testis for 12 weeks and after the application of growth factors after orchidopexy.MethodsForty 4-week old male Wistar albino rats were divided into 5 groups as follows: group 1, sham; group 2, gelatin; group 3, FGF; group 4, IGF; and group 5, GH. In the sham group, the right testis was exposed and sutured with 5-0 silk sutures. In groups 2-5, a right intra-abdominal testis was surgically created. After 12 weeks, orchidopexy was performed, and 1 cm2 gelatin films were sutured to the right testes, either unloaded (group 2), or containing 2.5 μg FGF (group 3), 5 μg IGF (group 4), or 5 μg GH (group 5). After 30 days, both testes were removed for histopathologic investigation and DNA flow cytometry. The mean seminiferous tubular diameters (MSTDs), mean testicular biopsy scores (MTBSs), and percentages of haploid (1n) cells were calculated.ResultsIpsilateral MSTD and MTBS significantly decreased in the gelatin and FGF groups compared with the sham, IGF, and GH groups. Contralateral MSTDs and MTBSs did not differ among groups. The haploid cell percentage significantly decreased in the ipsilateral and contralateral testes of the gelatin group compared with the sham, FGF, IGF, and GH groups.ConclusionsLocal release of IGF and GH resulted in the preservation of germ cell histology in the ipsilateral testes of rats with a surgically created unilateral undescended testis for 12 weeks and after orchidopexy. The administration of IGF, GH, and FGF increased the haploid germ cell population in both ipsilateral undescended and contralateral descended testes.