Aim: In SD rats, histological changes in the testis were observed after bilateral capsulotomy (of the tunica albuginea) in order to investigate the physiological role of the testicular capsule on sperm transport.
Methods: Bilateral longitudinal capsulotomy was devised to disrupt the capsular contractile function. With this technique, only the tunica vaginalis and tunica albuginea were slit open, leaving the tunica vasculosa intact to embrace the underlying testicular parenchyma. After capsulotomy, the structural changes in the seminiferous tubules, the transitional distal seminiferous segment, and the rete testis were observed.
Results: In the capsulotomized testis, there was sperm retention at the transitional seminiferous segment and progressive degenerative changes in seminiferous tubules.
Conclusion: The results clearly indicated that an intact testicular capsule was required for normal sperm transport from the seminiferous tubules into the rete testis. This is the first attempt to study the physiological role of the testicular capsule in intact animals.