[Pathological changes in epididymis of rats after phosphorus burns and mechanism of development]

The present study is to investigate the pathological changes in the epididymis of the rats within a period of 90 days after third degree phosphorus burns involving 30% of TBSA. By light microscopy and electron microscopy and histochemistry, varying degrees of degeneration and necrosis of epididymal epithelial cells, peritubular tissues and luminal spermatozoa and degenerative spermatid were found. The occurrence and development of all these changes might be divided into: the initiation and reaction phase of injury; the advanced phase; and the recovering phase. It is considered that epididymal tissue damage in advanced phase is so extensive and severe that the morphological, physiological and metabolic maturation of the spermatozoa may be affected, and the storing function of the epididymis as well. With the recovery of the burns, there was repair of the damaged tissues, and it could be inferred that the effect of phosphorus burns on the long-term reproductive capacity of male animals is probably mild.