Effects of high-energy shock waves on testes of Wistar rats.

The effects of high-energy shock wave (HESW) on testes are still unknown. We investigated Wistar rats at 3 months of age for morphologic and functional changes in the testes and in serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone (Prog), and testosterone (T). In an initial study, 12 rats received 1000 shocks at 19 kV directed at their testes using the JDPN-IV lithotripter. Two animals were sacrificed, and their testes were step-sectioned for light and electron microscopic examination on the operation day and on postoperation days one, two, four, eight, and sixty. There was angiectasis and congestion (58%) and focal hemorrhage (42%) in the testicular tissue, as well as mitochondrial swelling, reduction or disappearance of mitochondrial cristae (42%), and degranulation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (33%) in spermatocytes. In the definitive study, groups of 10 rats were exposed to the same power index directed at their testes. One week after this exposure in Group 1 and at 3 and 6 weeks in Group 2, the animals were allowed to mate (one male paired with two females). There was no statistically significant difference in pregnancy rate or fetal number and weight in the female rats mated with the two groups of treated males at 3 weeks' gestation or in serum FSH, Prog, and T, or compared with the control group. Although there were temporary histologic changes in testicular tissue, the rat testes appeared to be functionally resistant to the shock wave energy levels used in this experiment.