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The androgenic control of the composition of the rat epididymis determined by efferent duct ligation or castration

The mechanisms controlling the maturation of spermatozoa in the epididymis remain poorly understood although it is clear that an adequate supply of androgens is required for the normal maintenance of the organ. The technique of efferent duct ligation prevents spermatozoa from entering the epididymis and therefore enables metabolic processes to be studied in the androgen-maintained epididymis without contribution from spermatozoa. Castration enables the epididymis to be studied when spermatozoa and androgenic support are absent. Determinations of enzyme activities have indicated that, provided about 6 weeks are allowed following efferent duct ligation for the epididymis to become largely emptied of spermatozoa, the results of efferent duct ligation are indistinguishable from those after castration and later androgen replacement (Brooks, 1976b, c). These two techniques therefore enable a study to be made of the epididymis with and without androgenic support.

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