Complete Absence Of Spermatozoa Research Articles

Azoospermic Infertile Men

Of 1518 consecutive cases of men referred with infertility, 369 (24%) had complete absence of spermatozoa from their semen (azoospermia). This is a high incidence compared with the rates of 4 to 14% reported in other studies. Primary testicular failure, ductal obstruction, endocrine abnormalities, cryptorchidism and infection were common findings in these men; 247 (67%) gave a history of sexually transmitted infection. The duration of involuntary infertility on presentation ranged from 1 to 16 years. Very few couples accepted artificial insemination with donor semen (AID) as a method of achieving pregnancy and none would consider adoption.

Spermatogenic arrest associated with focal degenerative orchitis in related dogs

ABSTRACTFour dogs with a history of infertility were found on examination to be azoospermic. Three of the dogs were related (a sire and two male offspring) and investigation revealed that some of their male ancestors had been of reduced fertility. There were degenerative changes in 20–40 per cent of the seminiferous tubules, a proportion of which were associated with a focal peritubular orchitis. There was a complete absence of spermatozoa in the rete testis, the vasa efferentia and the epididymis. The possibility that the condition is of an autoimmune nature is discussed. The unrelated dog had a non‐inflammatory degeneration of tubules with complete absence of spermatogenesis.

Cytopathic effects of deuterium oxide on the male gonads of the mouse and dog

1. 1. In the CF No. 1 male mice maintained on 30 per cent deuterium oxide in their drinking water the cytological observations on the testes revealed the formation of multinucleated cells containing only spermiogenic elements. Exfoliation of spermatocytes and a disruption of the stages in the seminiferous cycle were also noted. 2. 2. The epididymides of the CF No. 1 mice showed, after 40 days treatment, a complete absence of spermatozoa and a great deal of debris from the tubules of the testis. 3. 3. The C-57 black male mice showed the testicular anomalies seen in the CF No. 1 mice plus an absence of spermatogenic cells. 4. 4. The observations on the testis of the dog were similar to those seen in the CF No. 1 mice. 5. 5. Since no visible evidence of necrobiosis was seen in the testes or epididymides of the deuterated mice, it is suggested that the meiotic divisions in all the deuterated mice were completed but that a block in the differentiation of the daughter cells accounts for the anomalies noted.