The fate of sperm after vasectomy in the hamster.

Young adult male hamsters were subjected to bilateral vasectomy. The reproductive tracts were studied by light and electron microscopy at intervals up to 1 year after the operation. Sperm continued to be produced, since testicular alterations were focal. Spermatic granulomas were associated with the excurrent ducts of all animals 5 months or 1 year after vasectomy and with those of one of four hamsters 2 weeks after the operation. Phagocytosis of sperm in the lumina of the efferent ducts and proximal parts of the epididymis, and disintegration of membranous components of intraluminal sperm occurred in approximately three-fourths of the animals studied 5 months or more after vasectomy. The results indicate that after vasectomy in the hamster sperm are disposed of by phagocytosis in spermatic granulomas, intraluminal phagocytosis, and dissolution in the lumen of the male ducts, although the latter process may be incomplete.