This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by ALEXANDER, N. J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by ALEXANDER, N. J.

VASECTOMY: LONG-TERM EFFECTS IN THE RHESUS MONKEY

Summary.: Long-term vasectomy of rhesus monkeys causes many morphological and functional changes in the epididymis, particularly in the ductuli efferentes. In intact animals, the epithelium of the ductuli efferentes consists of about equal numbers of ciliated and non-ciliated cells. Normally, in their apical portions, the ciliated cells contain lipid complexes associated with mitochondria. Spermatozoa are less frequently found in the lumen of the ductuli but are packed together and stored in large numbers in the caudal portion of the epididymis. In vasectomized animals, the ductuli enlarge as much as four times in diameter, and the epithelial basal lamina (normally 500 to 700 Å) thickens considerably (up to 3·2 µm). The number of ciliated cells is greatly reduced and in those remaining, the characteristic lipid complexes are absent. Spermatozoa become agglutinated in the lumen of the ductuli where they are ingested by macrophages. Fluorescein-labelled antibody and electron microscopy show the thickened basal lamina to be in the site of antigen-antibody complexing. It is postulated that long-term vasectomy results in an autoimmune response to spermatozoa that may aid in the disposal of the many spermatozoa still being produced by the testes but lacking an exit passage.