Vasectomy and spermatic granuloma in hamsters

Fifty-eight hamsters were bilaterally vasectomized either 1, 2, 3 or 6 months before experimentation. Fifty-five sham-vasectomized hamsters served as control. Cauda epididymal fluid was obtained by micropuncture. The effect of vasectomy on the incidence of spermatic granuloma was studied. The data were analyzed according to the presence or absence of granuloma after vasectomy and were compared with the data of their respective control. The incidence of granuloma increased with the duration of vasectomy and reached 92.8% at the end of 6 months after operation. Distension of the epididymis increased to a maximum at 1 month, but recovered to nearly normal irrespective of the existence of granuloma. The weight of the testis, spermatocrit and sperm density significantly decreased, and the percentage of abnormal sperm in the cauda and caput increased markedly in the absence of granuloma compared with their respective tract with granuloma or control. The testes in both the group with and without granuloma showed marked atrophy 6 months after vasectomy. The concentration of carnitine in the cauda epididymal plasma was significantly reduced from 2-6 months. The possible protective effect of a granuloma formation is discussed.