Adverse effects of vasectomy: sperm granuloma of epididymides.

ABSTRACT

Rats and mice were vasectomized to study the pathological changes in the development and resolution of vasectomy induced sperm granuloma. Epididymal weights were increased in all groups of vasectomized animals, whereas testicular weights did not change. Granuloma in the form of yellow nodular masses of cysts were present at the lower pole of the epididymis. It consisted of a pool of sperm and other material surrounded by a wall of histocytes or macrophages. The biologic significance of the phenomena has been discussed.