Comparative responses of the isolated human testicular capsule to autonomic drugs.

The testicular capsule of the human has been prepared for the first time as an isolated tissue suitable for pharmacological investigation. Cholinergic and adrenergic agents caused a contraction of the isolated testicular capsule. In addition, periodic spontaneous contractions of the isolated testicular capsule had been observed in the absence of any added pharmacological agents. The present experiments have demonstrated that the testicular capsule contains smooth muscle, thereby offering a reasonable anatomical explanation for spontaneous and drug-induced contractions of the testicular capsule. Therefore, it appears likely that the rhythmic contractions and relaxations of the testicular capsule provide a pumping action capable of explaining the transport of non-motile sperm out of the testes into the epididymis where they can attain their motility.