The effect of local heating on blood flow through the testes of some Australian marsupials

Abstract

1. 1. Testicular blood flow in some Australian marsupials ( Trichosurus vulpecula, Macropus eugenii and Megaleia rufa) has been calculated from the half-time of the single exponential clearance curve of locally injected Krypton-85. 2. 2. Blood flow increased when testicular temperature was raised. 3. 3. The marsupials differed in this regard from sheep and rats, and this may partly explain why male marsupials do not become infertile as readily as rams at high environmental temperatures.