Effect of alpha-chlorohydrin and vasoligation on epididymal and testicular blood flow in the rat and on sperm parameters.

Rats were injected subcutaneously with the male antifertility agent, alpha-chlorohydrin (90 mg/kg), and the animals killed 4/24, 2, 5, 10 and 20 days after the injection. Rats in a second series were killed at the same time intervals following bilateral ligation of the vasa efferentia to mimic the effect of the high dose of alpha-chlorohydrin in blocking the initial segment of the epididymis. The epididymides were cut into segments for relative blood flow estimations. There was little change in the pattern of blood flow in the epididymal segments of rats injected with alpha-chlorohydrin, and it appears that interference with the epididymal vasculature is not an important factor in the mode of action of alpha-chlorohydrin. Bilateral ligation of the vasa efferentia produced a marked effect on blood flow through the epididymis. The results suggest that this dose of alpha-chlorohydrin disrupts the motility and morphology of sperm in the epididymis.