Does unilateral orchidectomy influence blood flow, microcirculation and vascular morphology in the remaining testis?

Adult rats were hemi-orchidectomized and various aspects of testicular blood flow, microcirculation and vascular morphology were studied in the remaining testis after 30 days and compared to that in intact sham-operated animals. Testis weight, total testicular blood flow (measured with microspheres), capillary blood flow pattern (studied with laser Doppler flowmetry) and the volume of interstitial fluid in the testis (index of vascular permeability) were all unaffected by hemi-orchidectomy. Morphometric measurements on perfusion-fixed testicular tissue showed that the volume densities of Leydig cells, blood vessels and small exchange blood vessels were increased by hemi-orchidectomy (by approximately 45, 33 and 42%, respectively). The volume density of Leydig cells in individual testes was correlated to the volume and surface density of capillaries + small postcapillary velules (r = 0.72 and 0.86, respectively). Hemi-orchidectomy is known to result in a doubling in testosterone secretion per Leydig cell. This increased endocrine activity results in moderate increase in the vascular exchange area but other aspects of testicular microcirculation and blood flow are apparently unaffected.