ABSTRACT
Experimental studies in rats and bulls demonstrated the feasibility of using a silicone-Dacron prosthesis as a sperm reservoir in cases of excretory azoospermia. In the study of bulls, 50% of the cows inseminated with spermatozoa aspirated from the alloplastic spermatocele conceived and delivered healthy calves. The clinical results of a series of 14 humans suffering from excretory azoospermia not treatable by other means (e.g., epididymovasostomy or vasovasostomy) also are presented. THe aspirations from these spermatoceles produced motile spermatozoa; however, none of the patients'p spouses conceived after insemination.
Subject(s)
Epididymis/surgery , Infertility, Male/surgery , Oligospermia/surgery , Prostheses and Implants/methods , Animals , Cattle , Epididymis/abnormalities , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Microsurgery/methods , Polyethylene Terephthalates , Pregnancy , Rats , Silicone Elastomers , Sperm Count , Sperm MotilityABSTRACT
We developed a cup-shaped silicone-dacron prosthesis that may be used as a sperm reservoir. Spermatozoa aspirated from this reservoir and stored as pellets in liquid nitrogen for 6 weeks induced pregnancies and normal births in 50 per cent of inseminated cows. Because of aplasia or long stenosis of the vas deferens 26 prostheses were implanted upon the epididymis in 14 patients. Percutaneous aspirations up to 7 months postsurgery showed 0.3 to 105 million spermatozoa the quality and quantity of which decreased with time. Insemination of patients' wives has not resulted in pregnancy.
