The influence of scrotal heating prior to vasectomy on sperm granuloma formation and testicular activity

The effects of scrotal heating, prior to vasectomy, on the incidence of sperm granulomas, and the concomitant changes in the testicular steroidogenic activity were investigated. Twenty-three adult male rats (76 days of age) were divided at random into experimental and controls. The experimental rats were subjected to scrotal heating (dry heat) to a temperature of 50 degrees C for one minute, two weeks prior to vasectomy. The control rats were vasectomized without undergoing any heat treatment. Local application of heat to the scrotal sac reduced the incidence of sperm granuloma formation by 82%. The experimental rats had smaller testes and higher testicular corticosterone levels, at the end of the 90-day post-operative period, as compared to the corresponding controls. The testicular ascorbic acid utilization was not affected due to heat treatment. It appears that the application of scrotal heat prior to vasectomy selectively causes a total or partial degeneration of the seminiferous tubules. Heat application may cause an early disruption of the feedback link between the seminiferous tubules and the Leydig cells, leading to the production of corticosterone by the testicular interstitium.