Score Description Groups Cso T30min T30mR1h T30mR24h T30mR48h T30mR1wk 10 Complete spermatogenesis with many mature and shed spermatozoa present. The germinal epithelium originated normally and an open lumen is evident. 4* 4* 3* 1*     9 Many shed spermatozoa but the germinal epithelium disorganized with marked sloughing. 5* 3* 5* 6* 1*   8 Few spermatozoa (<5-10 per tubular cross-section) are present but many round and elongated spermatids are evident. 1*   2* 1* 2*   7 No spermatozoa are present but many round and elongated spermatids are evident.   2*   1* 1*   6 Few spermatids (<5-10 per tubular cross-section) are present but many spermatocytes are evident.   1*     5*   5 Many spermatocytes are present, but there are no spermatids or spermatozoa.         1* 1* 4 Few spermatocytes (<5-10 per tubular cross- section) are present but there are no spermatids or spermatozoa.       1*   1* 3 Spermatogonia are the only germ cells present.           3* 2 Only sertoli cells are present.           5* 1 No cells are evident in the tubule.             Mean± SD 9.3±0.7 8.7±1.5 9.1±0.7 8.3±1.7 6.7±1.3 2.8±2.5 *= Average of scores in cross sections of each group of testes based on number of tubule/ section. Cso = Control, sham operated; T30min= torsion for 30 minutes; R=reperfusion for 1 hour (R1h), 24 hours (R24h), 48 hours (R48h), and 1 week (R1wk). Scoring was based on 10 tubule profiles for each testis and the average for each score was recorded. Scores below 10 were considered evidence of impaired spermatogenesis.

Table 1: Testicular biopsy scores for the testicular sections from the different groups.