Artificial sperm reservoir on epididymis using pedicled tunica vaginalis for the management of conductive azoospermia.
In persons with azoospermia due to obstructive or anejaculatory causes, implantation of alloplastic silicone reservoirs onto the epididymis for collection of spermatozoa for artificial insemination, with eventual pregnancy, has become technically feasible, although there have been poor results from the procedure. Our experimental study on dogs indicates that such an epididymal reservoir can easily be constructed from a pedicled tunica vaginalis flap. Observations on the qualitative and quantitative changes in the spermatozoa of these reservoirs and conjecture about possible means of improvement of these parameters are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004822:Epididymis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012704:Serous Membrane / Q000601:surgery*; D013083:Sperm Transport; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013737:Testis / Q000601:surgery