Initial exploration of multispectral optoacoustic tomography in imaging of the testes in varicocele rats

Abstract:

Objective To explore the feasibility of photoacoustic tomography（PAT） and multispectral optoacoustic tomography（MSOT） for testicular structure and function imaging in a varicocele rat model.Methods Eighteen SD rats were randomly divided into blank group，model group，and Aescuven forte group，with 6 rats in each group. In the model group and Aescuven forte group，a varicocele rat model was established by narrowing the left renal vein and ligating the left spermatic vein. After 4 weeks of intervention，the PAT/MSOT image，oxygen metabolism，and oxidative stress levels of rat left testicle were compared to investigate the testicular imaging characteristics of rats with different interventions.Results PAT/MSOT provided a clear image of rat testicular structure and reflected the level of oxygen metabolism in the testes.Conclusion PAT/MSOT can be used to detect the structural and functional changes in the testis caused by varicocele. PAT/MSOT is a novel，simple，and safe method for non-invasive evaluation of testes.