The ligation of the male reproductive organs and the role of the spermatic cyst.

The effects of ligation of the vas deferens, the corpus epididymis and the vasa efferentia on spermatozoa and testicular morphology were studied in sexually mature rats. Following the ligation of the vas deferens, headless and immotile spermatozoa were observed on the second day in the vas deferens. Decapitation occured in more than ninty per cent of the spermatozoa on the sixth day and the motility became almost zero. On the contrary, in the epididymis normal spermatozoa were observed for a relatively long period. Even three weeks after the vas ligation, more than ninty per cent of spermatozoa showed normal morphology. Spermatic cyst formation was observed so early as four days following ligation of the vas. By the third week cysts were observed in most rats, either unilaterally or bilaterally. In addition, ligation of the corpus epididymis resulted also in the formation of a spermatic cyst on the proximal site of the ligature. A strong correlation was observed between spermatic cyst formation and the occurrence of morphological changes in the testis, as well as the motility and the normality of spermatozoa. When the spermatic cyst was formed, the testis showed almost normal morphology for a long period as well as spermatozoa in the ductal system. When a spermatic cyst was not formed, degenerative changes took place promptly and abnormal spermatozoa were observed in the ductal system. These observations suggest that the seminiferous tubules may be very sensitivie to the increase in intratubular pressure and in such instances the spermatic cyst acts as a "shock absorber" to prevent the abnormal increase of pressure within the ductal system, especially the seminiferous tubules. In addition, the result suggests further that a need for caution and careful follow-up are necessary in the vasectomized man.