Document Detail


Clinical, ultrasonographic and pathological features following unilateral vasectomy in rams.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17188437     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The effects of vasectomy on testes and related structures of animal species and men are largely disputable. These possible effects were studied in the ram, an established experimental animal model used to investigate genitalia pathophysiology. In each of five rams, vasectomy in the left spermatic cord was carried out; subsequently, the clinical and ultrasonographic features were monitored up to 12 months post-operatively. The rams were sequentially euthanatized 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post-operatively; gross- and histo-pathological examination of their testes and related structures were carried out. Four of the five rams developed sperm granulomas at the proximal to the testis end of vas deferens or/and at the tail of the epididymis; these were palpable from the first and the third month after vasectomy, respectively. Ultrasonographic findings on the vasectomy side were increased size and echogenicity of the epididymal tail, as well as anechoic areas, representing sperm granulomas, visible in the epididymal tail 1 week after vasectomy and in the proximal to the testis end of vas deferens 4 weeks after vasectomy. Gross pathological findings were limited on the vasectomy side and included adhesions between the parietal and the visceral vaginal tunic, enlarged and firm epididymal tail and presence of sperm granulomas at the epididymal tail or/and at the proximal to the testis end of vas deferens; the granulomas contained creamy material. Histopathological changes were observed mainly in the epididymal tails, consisting of a central mass of spermatozoa, surrounded by a layer of macrophages, surrounded in turn by loose vascular connective tissue rich in lymphocytes and plasma cells. With the exception of signs of mild hypospermatogenesis observed in one ram euthanatized 9 months after surgery, and of a slight increase in seminiferous tubule diameter and in seminiferous epithelium height in the rams euthanatized 6 and 9 months after surgery, which are both findings of no clinical importance, no clinical, ultrasonographic, gross- or other histo-pathological changes were observed in the testicular parenchyma during a 12-month post-operative period. These results demonstrate that vasectomy has little if any detrimental effect on the morphologic characteristics of the spermatogenesis in rams.
Authors:
Pagona G Gouletsou; Apostolos D Galatos; George C Fthenakis
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2006-11-30
Journal Detail:
Title:  Animal reproduction science     Volume:  103     ISSN:  0378-4320     ISO Abbreviation:  Anim. Reprod. Sci.     Publication Date:  2008 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-11-20     Completed Date:  2008-05-14     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7807205     Medline TA:  Anim Reprod Sci     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  52-68     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece. ngoule@vet.uth.gr
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Genitalia, Male / physiology,  surgery*,  ultrasonography
Histocytochemistry
Male
Organ Size / physiology
Sheep / physiology,  surgery*
Spermatogenesis / physiology
Vasectomy / veterinary*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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