Experiments on Artificial Cryptorchidism and Ligature of the Vas Deferens in Mammals

Abstract

It has long been known that as a rule the abdominal or undescended testis in man and other Mammals is sterile, and that normal and complete spermatogenesis does not occur in it. Dr F. A. E. Crew (2) suggested in 1922 that the cause of this infertility was the higher temperature of the abdominal cavity compared with that of the scrotal cavity. Mr Carl R. Moore ((5) 1922) of the Hull Zoological Laboratories, University of Chicago, made the same suggestion in the same year and has since published evidence in support of it (Moore, C. R.(6) 1924). He has shown that experimental cryptorchidism produces a condition of the testis essentially similar to natural cryptorchidism. The testis may be made to remain in the body cavity in Rodents, which have a wide and open inguinal canal, by separating the testis from the scrotal wall, pushing it into the abdomen, and closing the inguinal canal with a purse-string suture; by fastening the caput epididymis to the abdominal wall with a suture; or by everting the scrotal sac into the abdomen and securing its walls to the body-wall. In the adult guinea-pig 7 days’ retention was sufficient to produce degeneration of the various cells in the different stages of spermatogenesis.