Aim: To determine whether vasectomy away from the epididymal tail (via the inguinal canal) in rabbits can reduce the early postoperative effects on spermatogenesis.

Methods: Twenty-nine normal male Japanese white rabbits (aged 4–6 months) were subjected to unilateral close-ended (conventional) or open-ended (the cut end of the juxta-epididymal vas deferens not ligated) vasectomy via the inguinal canal. Ten days and 3 months after operation, testes, epididymides and vasa deferentia were removed and methacrylate resin-embedded sections prepared. The histology of the testis, epididymis and vas deferens was examined under light microscope, and the volume and diameter of the seminiferous tubules were quantitatively studied using stereological methods.

Results: Neither of the methods of vasec-tomy led to apparent damage to spermatogenesis on the vasectomized side in comparison with the contralateral sham-operated side, but the juxta-epididymal vas deferens on the vasectomized side was highly distended and contained numerous sperm 3 months after operation.

Conclusion: Vasectomy away from the cauda epididymis has no significant early postoperative effects on spermatogenesis in rabbits.

Keywords: vasectomy, inguinal canal, spermatogenesis, testis, rabbits

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