Effects of Seminal Vesiculectomy on Structure and Function of Testes and Epididymides in Vasectomized Rats

Choi, Won Suk; Kim, Kee Soo

Abstract

Vasectomy has become increasingly popular as a method of male fertility control in humans because it is simpler than other methods for a woman. In spite of numerous studies on the effects of vasectomy on reproductive organs and their functions over varying periods of time, a lot of problems remained such as histological and functional changes of the reproductive organs. Recently the vasovasostomy has been developed under the requiring of succeeding an offspring or other problems, but it has not proved to be consistently i reliable in reversing previously performed vasectomies. Results in most of the investigations indicate that sperm is present in the ejaculate of 95 per cent of the operated cases. However, pregnancy occurs in only 40 per cent of the partners. It also has been demonstrated that antisperm antibodies occur in the serum of approximately half of the patients who have undergone vasectomy, and the immunologic consequences of vasectomy have been investigated extensively in a variety of laboratory animals and in man, but opinions vary as to whether such antibodies may be responsible for infertility after vasectomy. A second, also less information about phenomenon is formation of antisperm antibodies. Some have postulated that sperm granuloma formation is a mechanism for sensitization of the host to his own sperm, but other have concluded that sperm granuloma formation does not necessarily result in humoral sperm autosensitization. In an attempt to observe the effects of seminal vesiculectomy on structure and function of the testes and epididymides in vasectomized rats, this study was performed. The results as follows: 1. Spermatogenesis in the testicular tissue seems to be much inhibited in vasectomized rats after seminal vesiculectomy. 2. Absorptive activity of the rat epididymides may be accounted to be decreased after seminal vesiculectomy. 3. Sperm granuloma occurred around the epididymides of 90 per cent in the vasectomized rat after seminal vesiculectomy: Large one was measured by 2.5 x 1.5cm., but 50 per cent in the vasectomized rat with large one measured by 1.5 x 0.6cm. in size.