Injections of spermatozoa and testicular substance into male rats.

Abstract

In studying possible modifying effects on spermatogenesis, young adult male rats were injected subcutaneously and intraperitoneally with (1) freshly macerated testis suspensions and (2) with a suspension of rat spermatozoa. Subsequent matings were made with all injected males and the testes were later studied histologically. Agglutination tests were not made. It was found that one to five relatively heavy injections of these materials produced no specific effect on testicular activity within the limits of the experiment (three days to four months after the last injection). Smears from testes of previously injected males showed sperm motility, and litters obtained from matings proved the spermatozoa physiologically normal. Formed materials injected into the abdomen at times resulted in the production of cysts or abscesses sometimes located in the scrotum. When these latter were sufficiently large to cause displacement of the testis into the abdomen, the testis was found to be degenerate. Such degeneration, however, was not due to serological influences of the injected materials, but solely to the mechanical displacement of the organ; removed from the scrotal regulatory influences degeneration of the testis follows rapidly. In the abdomen degeneration is brought about through the exposure to higher than normal temperature for the testis and this degeneration should be carefully distinguished from supposed serological influences.