The effect of neonatal vasectomy on testicular function

The effect of unilateral or bilateral vasectomy on testicular weight and basal testosterone production in vitro was studied in neonatal intact and hemicastrated rats. Five days after right-side vasectomy ipsilateral to vasectomy testicular weight increased, and basal testosterone production decreased. Ten days postvasectomy the changes were opposite, and affected both testes. In hemicastrated animals hemivasectomy did not interfere with compensatory hypertrophy but induced a significant decrease in basal testosterone production. The data of the present study suggest that in neonatal animals intact ductus deferens bundle(s) is also required for the full control of testicular weight and basal testosterone secretion.