[Silastic spermatocele]

The study was carried out in two stages. An initial experimental study in the rat showed that it was possible to attach a spermatocele to the rat epididymus and to collect spermatozoa during the months that followed. The clinical trial involved the implantation of 8 spermatoceles in 5 male patients. The technic is simple, as predicted by the animal study but, as previously described by numerous other authors, the communication between epididymus and spermatocele is obliterated within several months. These findings confirm the possibility of use of a spermatocele that is well tolerated and of simple functioning, but which does not allow fertile spermatozoa capable of producing pregnancy to be obtained.