To demonstrate the effect of capsulotomy on the fertility of male rats. Methods: Testicular capsulotomy was carried out in immature (21 days) and adult (60 days) male rats. The fertility of them was assessed by cohabitation with proestrus females overnight and 20 days later, the females were examined for impregnation. Morphological changes at the site of the capsulotomy were observed under light microscope. Results: In rats capsulotomized at Day 60, the fertility was gradually depressed and all the rats completely lost their fertility 2 months post - operation. At that time, a partial regeneration of the capsule at the site of capsulotomy was observed. Immature rats capsulotomized at Day 21 were found to possess normal fertility at maturity. The capsulotomy site was almost completely recovered 60days post-operation. Conclusion: In male rats, testicular capsulotomy at the age of Day 60 will damage fertility.However, when capsulotomy is performed at Day 21, fertility is preserve.

Aim: In order to reveal the histochemical alteration that might occur during the processes of the spermatogenic dis mption induced by testicular capsulotomy, the location and alteration of lipid droplets in the seminiferous tubules were observed in the present study. Methods: Osmium tetroxide was used to demonstrate the lipid droplets in the semi niferous tubules of capsulotomized and sham-operated control testes. Results: In the seminiferous tubules of the sham-operated rat testes, many small lipid droplets were located close to the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules. But for the capsulotomized testes, the lipid droplets in the seminiferous tubules had increased in size and num ber, with many lipid droplets migrated towards the lumen of the tubules. Conclusion: The results indicated that a progressive fatty degeneration occurred in the seminiferous tubules after testicular capsulotomy.