ABSTRACT
Epididymis acts as an active contributor toward the formation of fertile ejaculate. Persistent infertility after vasectomy is common. This study aimed to determine the possible histological changes that might occur in the ipsilateral rat epididymal caput secondary to left sided vas deferens ligation. Twenty healthy adult albino rats were equally divided into a control group [I] and vasectomized group [II]. Group I was further subdivided into a nonoperated group Ia and a sham-operated group Ib. The left vas deferens of sham-operated rats [group Ib] was only exposed, whereas in group II, it was ligated and transected. Left epididymal caputs of both groups were extirpated after 8 weeks and were processed for light and electron microscopic examinations. Bax immunoreaction was carried out to detect apoptosis. The diameter and epithelial height of epididymal tubules were determined morphometrically and analyzed statistically. In the vasectomized group, the epithelial lining of some tubules showed discontinuity. Principal and clear cells showed many ultrastructural changes. Many halo cells came in close contact with the lumina and many basal cells were observed. Some tubules contained sperm, exfoliated, and inflammatory cells. Widened interstitium with cellular infiltrations, collagen fibers, and multiple peritubular layers of smooth muscle cells were observed. Tubular epithelial cells showed a positive Bax immunoreaction. The estimated and analyzed epithelial height/diameter of the epididymal tubules showed a highly significant decrease/increase compared with the control group. In conclusion, vasectomy induced epididymal morphological changes with evidence of an inflammatory response. These changes may lead to epithelial dysfunction and consequently improper sperm maturation