EFFECTS OF VASECTOMY ON THE MORPHOLOGY, MOTILITY AND CONCENTRATION OF EPIDIDYMAL SPERMATOZOA IN THE LABORATORY MOUSE

Vasectomy-induced changes in the morphology, motility and concentration of epididymal spermatozoa were evaluated at intervals up to six months in mice belonging to the Parkes (P) strain: In animals killed one, two, four and six months post-vasectomy, a duration-dependent decrease in the percentage of motile spermatozoa and in the concentration of intact spermatozoa was noticed in the cauba epididymidis as compared with age-matched controls. In the majority of cauda epididymidal spermatozoa obtained from operated mice the head became detached from the tail; unfragmented (intact) spermatozoa often presented abnormal appearance with a hookless head and bent tail.