EXPERIMENTAL VASECTOMY AND TESTICULAR STRUCTURE

We have performed an experimental study on rats and dogs to evaluate t he long term effects (from 1 to 12 months) of vasectomy on the structu re of the testis. From four months after vasectomy onwards, the specim ens showed very important changes in the seminiferous epithelium and S ertoli cells, with an obvious thickening of the basement membrane that supports the epithelium. The deterioration depended on the time passe d and, over six months after vasectomy, the alterations were very clea r and the seminiferous tubules became atrophic and shrunk, sometimes w ithout any remains of seminiferous epithelium and with an important hy pertrophy of the interlobular interstitial tissue, although we did not see an increase in the number of Leydig cells. Alterations due to vas ectomy depend on the animal species, the peculiarities of techniques a nd, of course, the time passed after surgery.