Erythropoietin Effect on Testicular Germinal Epithelium Cells in Undescended Testis Mice Model

Background: Undescended testis is an absence of testis in the scrotum, the incidence was 15 cases per 1000 from 1974 to 1996 in Europe. At Saiful Anwar Regional Hospital East Java, from January 2015 to July 2019 there were 60 boys diagnosed with undescended testis. Temperature rise of testis located in the abdominal trigger production of reactive oxygen species, causing impairment of the testicular epithelial germ cells and spermato-genesis, leading to many complications. Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein hormone that circulates in the body and has a positive effect on ischemic injury/gonadal reperfusion. Objective: To find out ROS involvement in undescended testis and efficacy of EPO as additional therapy for undescended testis. Methods: This study is an experimental study with a post-test only control group design, using 18 male Wistar mice conditioned to be undescended testis for 7 days and underwent orchidopexy and some are given additional erythropoietin 1000iu/Kg 3 times a week. Results: Before and after intervention, mean body weight of mice did not experience significant difference, meanwhile testicular volume showed significant difference between orchidopexy and EPO group (p = 0.005 and 0.001). Johnsen score were found significant in EPO group. Malone dialdehyde level in EPO and orchidopexy group showed significance difference p = 0.01 and 0.009 when compared to undescended testis group. Conclusion: There was involvement of ROS in undescended testis and additional EPO improve impairment of germinal epithelial cells and spermato-genesis process due to undescended testis.