Sperm transport through the rete testis in anesthetized rats: role of the testicular capsule and effect of gonadotropins and prostaglandins

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980 · Biol. Reprod.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5630073

Free, M J; Jaffe, R A; Morford, D E

An intact testicular capsule was not necessary for flow of rete testis fluid in anesthetized rats fitted with efferent duct cannulae. Flow was unaffected by i.v. injections of FSH, LH or prolactin, or by intratesticular injections of prostaglandin E/sub 1/, E/sub 2/ or A/sub 1/. However, small increases in intratesticular pressure resulting from injection of 2 to 20 ..mu..l saline resulted in transient (3 to 7 min) increases in flow rate, while PGF/sub 2..cap alpha../ increased rete testis fluid flow 2 to 3-fold over a 20 to 40 min period. PGF/sub 2..cap alpha../ effect was reduced or eliminated when the testicular capsule was cut open. Sperm concentration in the rete fluid was unaffected by any of the treatments mentioned above, suggesting that spermiation was unaffected. In hypophysectomized rats given replacement androgens for 8 weeks (2.5 to 25 mg testosterone propionate/day), sperm concentration in rete fluid was similar to normal, although rate of fluid flow, and therefore sperm output rates, were significantly reduced. These data suggest a link between testicular fluid production and sperm release in the rat.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA
• OSTI ID: 5630073
• Journal Information: Biol. Reprod.; (United States), Vol. 22
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
FSH
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
LH
LTH
PROSTAGLANDINS
SPERMATOZOA
FLOW RATE
FLUID FLOW
HYPOPHYSECTOMY
INTRAVENOUS INJECTION
RATS
TESTES
ANIMALS
BODY
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
GONADOTROPINS
GONADS
HORMONES
INJECTION
INTAKE
MALE GENITALS
MAMMALS
MEDICINE
ORGANS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PITUITARY HORMONES
RODENTS
SURGERY
VERTEBRATES
551000* - Physiological Systems