Biomaterial Database

Quantitation of sperm disposal and phagocytic cells in the tract of short- and long-term vasectomized mice. 1987

C L Barratt, and J Cohen

Department of Zoology & Comparative Physiology, University of Birmingham, U.K.

By calculating the number of spermatozoa produced by the mouse testis after vasectomy, and actually counting the number of spermatozoa present in the epididymides and vasa deferentia, the number of spermatozoa resorbed at different times was quantified. The contributions of sperm phagocytosis and intraluminal dissolution of spermatozoa (separate sperm heads and tails) in sperm disposal were examined. Sperm resorption was clearly demonstrated, with about 100 X 10(6) spermatozoa and 426 X 10(6) spermatozoa having been resorbed by 6 weeks and 6 months after vasectomy, respectively. A characteristic of the vasectomized tract was the high proportion of degenerating spermatozoa, and small lymphocytes, but very few intraluminal phagocytes were observed. The results suggest that spermatozoa are resorbed after vasectomy and that intraluminal sperm dissolution, rather than phagocytosis, is a prominent mechanism of sperm disposal in the tract of the vasectomized mouse.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D010587	Phagocytosis	The engulfing and degradation of microorganisms; other cells that are dead, dying, or pathogenic; and foreign particles by phagocytic cells (PHAGOCYTES).	Phagocytoses
D004822	Epididymis	The convoluted cordlike structure attached to the posterior of the TESTIS. Epididymis consists of the head (caput), the body (corpus), and the tail (cauda). A network of ducts leaving the testis joins into a common epididymal tubule proper which provides the transport, storage, and maturation of SPERMATOZOA.
D005837	Genitalia, Male	The male reproductive organs. They are divided into the external organs (PENIS; SCROTUM; and URETHRA) and the internal organs (TESTIS; EPIDIDYMIS; VAS DEFERENS; SEMINAL VESICLES; EJACULATORY DUCTS; PROSTATE; and BULBOURETHRAL GLANDS).	Accessory Sex Organs, Male,Genital Organs, Male,Sex Organs, Accessory, Male,Genitals, Male,Reproductive System, Male,Genital, Male,Male Genital,Male Genital Organs,Male Genitalia,Male Genitals,Male Reproductive System,Male Reproductive Systems,Reproductive Systems, Male
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013076	Sperm Count	A count of SPERM in the ejaculum, expressed as number per milliliter.	Sperm Number,Count, Sperm,Counts, Sperm,Number, Sperm,Numbers, Sperm,Sperm Counts,Sperm Numbers
D013094	Spermatozoa	Mature male germ cells derived from SPERMATIDS. As spermatids move toward the lumen of the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES, they undergo extensive structural changes including the loss of cytoplasm, condensation of CHROMATIN into the SPERM HEAD, formation of the ACROSOME cap, the SPERM MIDPIECE and the SPERM TAIL that provides motility.	Sperm,Spermatozoon,X-Bearing Sperm,X-Chromosome-Bearing Sperm,Y-Bearing Sperm,Y-Chromosome-Bearing Sperm,Sperm, X-Bearing,Sperm, X-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperm, Y-Bearing,Sperm, Y-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperms, X-Bearing,Sperms, X-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperms, Y-Bearing,Sperms, Y-Chromosome-Bearing,X Bearing Sperm,X Chromosome Bearing Sperm,X-Bearing Sperms,X-Chromosome-Bearing Sperms,Y Bearing Sperm,Y Chromosome Bearing Sperm,Y-Bearing Sperms,Y-Chromosome-Bearing Sperms
D013737	Testis	The male gonad containing two functional parts: the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES for the production and transport of male germ cells (SPERMATOGENESIS) and the interstitial compartment containing LEYDIG CELLS that produce ANDROGENS.	Testicles,Testes,Testicle
D014659	Vasectomy	Surgical removal of the ductus deferens, or a portion of it. It is done in association with prostatectomy, or to induce infertility. (Dorland, 28th ed)	Intravasal Thread,Vas Ligation,Vas Occlusion,Vas Occlusion, Nonchemical,Vasectomy Seekers,Vasectomy Seekers, Refused,Intravasal Threads,Ligation, Vas,Ligations, Vas,Nonchemical Vas Occlusion,Nonchemical Vas Occlusions,Occlusion, Nonchemical Vas,Occlusion, Vas,Occlusions, Nonchemical Vas,Occlusions, Vas,Refused Vasectomy Seeker,Refused Vasectomy Seekers,Seeker, Refused Vasectomy,Seeker, Vasectomy,Seekers, Refused Vasectomy,Seekers, Vasectomy,Thread, Intravasal,Threads, Intravasal,Vas Ligations,Vas Occlusions,Vas Occlusions, Nonchemical,Vasectomies,Vasectomy Seeker,Vasectomy Seeker, Refused
D051379	Mice	The common name for the genus Mus.	Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus