Effect of testicular capsulotomy on fertility of rats.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the effect of capsulotomy on the fertility of male rats.


METHODS
Testicular capsulotomy was carried out in immature (21 days) and adult (60 days) male rats. The fertility of them was assessed by cohabitation with proestrus females overnight and 20 days later, the females were examined for impregnation. Morphological changes at the site of the capsulotomy were observed under light microscope.


RESULTS
In rats capsulotomized at Day 60, the fertility was gradually depressed and all the rats completely lost their fertility 2 months post-operation. At that time, a partial regeneration of the capsule at the site of capsulotomy was observed. Immature rats capsulotomized at Day 21 were found to possess normal fertility at maturity. The capsulotomy site was almost completely recovered 60 days post-operation.


CONCLUSIONS
In male rats, testicular capsulotomy at the age of Day 60 will damage fertility. However, when capsulotomy is performed at Day 21, fertility is preserve.
Department of Physiology, Shantou University School of Medicine, China. lqchen@mailserv.stu.edu.cn
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D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005298:Fertility; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013737:Testis / Q000601:surgery*