To find the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging patterns and to determine the viability in normal, infracted and reversible ischemic testis of the rat.

Fifteen Sprague-Dawley rats were examined and they were divided into four groups. Group 1 was the control group, group 2 had a complete testicular artery ligation, group 3 had a complete ligation with reperfusion after 1 hour and group 4 had a complete ligation with reperfusion after 12 hours. All four groups were imaged every 5 minutes for 30 minutes. Delayed MR imaging was obtained every 30 minutes for 90 minutes. Two follow-up MR images were performed in all groups at a one-week interval. The signal intensity was measured in the normal testis, ischemic testis, and in muscle, water and fat in every rat at each time, with the phantom attached near the scrotum during the scanning. The signal intensities were analyzed statistically.

On initial and 2-week follow-up examinations, the pattern of change differed among four groups (p<0.001). Group 1 and Group 3 did not show any marked change over time at each examination. Group 3 showed strong enhancement at the first week follow-up. Group 2 showed steadily delayed enhancement at each examination. Group 4 had same pattern with the Group 2 with higher enhancement intensity in parallel.

MR images with Gd-DTPA could be useful for the diagnosis of damaged testicular tissue and for the determination of testicular viability.