Pneumoperitoneum induces morphological alterations in the rat testicle.

PURPOSE To investigate the seminiferous tubule histological morphology after an 8 mmHg pneumoperitoneum in the rat model. METHODS Fourteen rats were divided into two groups: a Sham group submitted to anesthesia and a pneumoperitoneum (Pp) group submitted to abdominal insufflation at 8 mmHg during three hours, followed by desuflation. All rats were killed after six weeks, testicles were collected and evaluated for the tubule diameter, germinative epithelium height and Johnsen´s score. Means were compared by using the Student's-t-test. RESULTS The seminiferous tubule diameter was diminished by 11.3% in the group submitted to pneumoperitoneum (p<0.05). No significant difference was found among the groups when analyzing the epithelium height and Johnsen´s score. CONCLUSION In the rat model, the seminiferous tubules present structural alterations when subjected to pneumoperitoneum of 8 mmHg during three hours.