Comparison of the Effects of Vasectomy and Experimental Cryptorchidism in Rats: I. Testicular Histology

Abstract

The effects of cryptorchidism, one of the most important congenital malformations resulting with the defects in testicular structure thus infertility, is the best known subject in male reproduction. Those best known effects make the usage of cryptorchidism as a second control criteria when the effects of other male infertility reasons are attempted to be determined. Therefore the persistency or reversibility of the effects of vasectomy on testicular structure have been compared to the testicular features following experimental cryptorchidism and to the control group findings. To do this, rats were divided into 3 groups. While the control group animals were sham operated, the experimental group animals were undergone either vasectomy or experimental cryptorchidism procedures. Testicular histology of the control and experimental groups was determined using convenient staining methods at the light microscopical level. The comparison of the findings from the control and experimental groups showed that the testicular features of the vasectomized group were similar to those seen in the control group in contrast to the experimental cryptorchidism group which had irreversible testicular alterations. Results of the present study indicated the convenience of the usage of vasectomy in male contraception.