ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To relieve the side effects induced by the complete obstruction of the vas deferens, we created a filtering-type intra-vas device (IVD) which is made of materials composed of nano-SiO(2)-copper complex cross-linking polymer composites. STUDY DESIGN: Eight male beagle dogs were grouped into nonimplanted control group and IVD-implanted group. We tested the efficacy of the sperm filtering effect of the new IVD material for 12 months and examined the influence of the IVD materials on the cells of the vas deferens, epididymis and testis. RESULTS: The densities of sperm were reduced significantly after the IVD was implanted; no motile sperm were found after the third month. No obvious morphological changes were found in the cells of the vas deferens, epididymis and testis in the IVD-implanted group. CONCLUSIONS: The filtering-type nano-SiO(2)-copper complex/polymer composite IVD is able to filter the sperm of the male dogs, and the IVD material did not cause obvious damage to the cells of the male reproductive organs after 1 year of implantation.
