The Effects of Vasectomy on the Testes of Albino Rats: A Histological Study

Context: Population explosion has become one of the most challenging problems which are being faced by the entire world. Vasectomy is a simple, safe, quick and effective but vital method for male sterilization. In the recent years, a large number of vasectomies are being performed in India, since the inception of the National Family Planning Program in 1956. Thus, the number of requests for the restoration of fertility is also being increased. Aim: The present study was carried out to know whether the histology of the testes and spermatogenesis remains normal after vasectomy. Materials and Methods: The histology of the testes of 50 male albino rats was studied one, two, three and four months after vasectomy in 10 male albino rats of each group and 10 male albino rats served as the controls. Results: After vasectomy, the seminiferous tubules were cut in various planes, which were covered externally by connective tissue stroma with a normal histological picture. The spermatogonia, spermatids, Sertoli cells, spermatozoa and Leydig cells showed a normal histological picture, with normal sized blood vessels in the interstitial connective tissue in the vasectomised and the control rats. In some seminiferous tubules, granular cytoplasmic vesicle like structures were found to fill the lumen and the spermatids which were metamorphosing to spermatozoa. Many round or elongated heads of the spermatozoa were present at the apical portion of the Sertoli cells. In some seminiferous tubules, disorganization of the seminiferous epithelium was found after the second month of the vasectomy. Conclusions: On critical analysis, it was concluded that the histology of the testes and the spermatogenesis remained normal at four months after the vasectomy.