Influence of open testicular biopsy in prepubertal rats on rats' adulthood fertility with correlation to serum levels of inhibin B and follicle stimulating hormone

Objective: Open testicular biopsy (OTB) is one of the options to accurately assess fertility potential of the undescended testis. The aim of the study was to investigate conse- quences of OTB in prepubertal rats on their adulthood fertility. Methods: Thirty-eight prepubertal male rats were divided into three groups depending on day 20 procedure. The first group was the control group, the second sham operated and the third has left OTB. Bilateral orchiectomy was performed on day 70 to all groups, with determination of serum inhibin B and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Removed testes were compared ac- cording to the weight, volume, spermatogenesis, histological and apoptotic changes in both testes with differences in serum levels of inhibin B and FSH. Results: Ipsilateral testicular weight, volume, and spermatogenesis reduction with a reduction of tubular number, diameter and germinative epithelium was found in OTB group. Significant increase in apoptotic index was found in biopsied testis without compensatory hypertrophy of contralateral testis. Differences of inhibin B and FSH were not statistically significant among three groups.