Injection of copper powder into epididymides via vas deferens on male fertility.
In adult SD rats, a single injection of silicon rubber containing 10mg metallic copper particles via vas deferens into each cauda epididymis could induce male infertility.  Although the copper contact in the cauda epididymides of treated rats was significantly higher than that in the controls, the serum copper concentration did not rise significantly, while the histology of important organs and blood testosterone levels did not change.  Treated animals gained weight as fast as the controls, suggesting a low systemic toxicity of this procedure.  In 5 of the 8 treated rats, fertility was restored 16 weeks after treatment with normal testicular copper concentration and testicular histology.  In 3, fertility was not restored within 16 weeks and the testicular copper concentration was significantly higher than in the controls.  Only in these 3 rats were different degrees of damage noted in the seminiferous epithelium and it is anticipated that the fertility will be restored after a certain period of time since sperm production was unaffected.  The delayed recovery of fertility in these rats is attributed to the diffusion of copper ions into the testis.  It would appear that the injection of silicon rubber containing copper particles via the vas deferens to the cauda epididymides is a potential approach for male contraception.
Zhang
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XG
Xu
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Qian
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D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D000886:Anthropometry; D001208:Asia; D001695:Biology; D001835:Body Weight; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D002681:China; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003300:Copper; D003710:Demography; D003906:Developing Countries; D003933:Diagnosis; D004822:Epididymis; D005202:Asia, Eastern; D005298:Fertility; D005835:Genitalia; D005837:Genitalia, Male; D006653:Histology; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals; D008670:Metals; D010827:Physiology; D011153:Population; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012106:Research; D013737:Testis; D014566:Urogenital System
D007287:Inorganic Chemicals; D008670:Metals; D003300:Copper
Animals, Laboratory; Anthropometry; Asia; Biology; Body Weight; China; Clinical Research; Copper--administraction and dosage; Copper--analysis; Demographic Factors; Developing Countries; Eastern Asia; Epididymis; Examinations And Diagnoses; Fertility; Genitalia; Genitalia, Male; Histology; Ingredients And Chemicals; Inorganic Chemicals; Laboratory Examinations And Diagnoses; Metals; Physiology; Population; Population Dynamics; Research Methodology; Testis; Urogenital System