Control of testicular vasomotion by testosterone and tubular factors in rats

Testicular vasomotion (rhythmical variations in testicular blood flow) was studied in adult rats using laser Doppler flowmetry. Vasomotion was not present in testes in which the Leydig cells had been destroyed, but it could be induced by a low dose of testosterone. Transposition of a scrotal testis into the abdominal cavity inhibited vasomotion and this was apparently not caused by Leydig cell malfunction. Depletion of specific germ cells (by unilateral X-irradiation induced killing of spermatogonia and maturation depletion of germ cells) did not abolish vasomotion in the testis. It is suggested that testicular vasomotion is influenced by testosterone and by factors from Sertoli cells.