Objective: To evaluate the influence of cold ischemia time on spermatogenesis in a rabbit model of testicular ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.
Material and methods: The testicular I/R model was established in 24 male white rabbits. The left testes were preserved using HC-A solution at 0 degrees C to 4 degrees C. Cold ischemia time was 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours. The right testes without vascular occlusion were used as autologous controls. Twenty-four hours after reperfusion, the animals were sacrificed, and samples were obtained at bilateral orchiectomy. Another 8 normal testes were used as normal controls. Testicular tissue Johnsen score, malondialdehyde concentration, and apoptosis index were used to evaluate spermatogenesis.
Results: The Johnsen score decreased and the apoptosis index increased with the duration of cold ischemia time in the I/R groups. The malondialdehyde concentration in the I/R groups was significantly higher than the sham and normal groups, and was highest at 4 hours of cold ischemia time.
Conclusion: Testicular I/R injury is highly related to cold ischemia time. In rabbit models, testis transplantation is best performed within 4 hours of cold ischemia with traditional hypothermic protection.