| Abstract: | A study to examine possible modifications in the number and/or morphology of the Leydig cell following vasectomy was done on 45 adult male rats. Rats were classified into 3 groups of 15 in which Group 1 had undergone left-sided vasectomy by section and double ligation, Group 2 had been subjected to a left-sided sham operation and Group 3 were intact controls. 5 rats from each group were killed 2, 4 and 6 months after the surgical procedures. Examination revealed insignificant variations in the vasectomized testes' weight and no differences in Leydig cell number when compared with contralateral and control gonads. The Leydig cells appeared histologically normal and differences between vasectomized and control groups were not found. Finally, no differences were found between the testes from vasectomized and control rats. Results demonstrated that examination of the testes revealed insignificant modifications in Leydig cell number or structure and that steroidogenesis in the testes was normal. |
