title: Interpositional substitution of free vas deferens segment autografts in rat: feasibility and potential implications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Insufficient vas length for performing a tension-free vasovasostomy is a problem occasionally encountered by microsurgeons. Herein we evaluated utilization of a non-vascularized vas deferens autograft in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Segments of isolated vas deferens, 2.5 cm in length, were used as bilateral autografts in 15 rats. Each autograft was implanted between the two transected ends of vas deferens using end-to-end anastomosis. Fertility, sperm motility, and graft survival was evaluated and compared with the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the 3 months, 9/15 (60%) rats were able to breed successfully and 24 (80%) vas grafts were patent and viable. Large granulomata developed at the proximal anastomosis sites in 6 (20%) autografts that failed. Unilateral minimal fluid leakage was observed in 6 (20%) of the proximal (testicular end) anastomosis sites in those rats that were able to breed. Histological evaluations demonstrated that graft survival was associated with mild to severe changes in the structure of the vas autograft. On semen analysis 76% of the sperms in the experimental group had forward motility compared to 78% in the control group (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vas autograft can successfully be performed in a rat model with ultimate breeding capability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Istanbul School of Medicine, University of Istanbul, 34365 Istanbul, Turkey. teoman@istanbul.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Teoman Cem
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Kadioglu
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Temple-Smith
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Southwick
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D064592:Autografts; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000601:surgery; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005298:Fertility; D006085:Graft Survival; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D023421:Models, Animal; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013081:Sperm Motility; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000379:methods*; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D014669:Vasovasostomy
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