Biology of the Scrotum. II. Suppression by Abdominal Temperature of Transepithelial Ion and Water Transport in the Cauda Epididymidis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Spermatozoa of scrotal mammals will mature in, but cannot be stored at, abdominal temperatures in the epididymis reflected to the abdomen. Whether the failure of sperm storage at abdominal temperatures reflects a temperature sensitivity of the caudal epithelium, or of the spermatozoa, is unknown. Microperfusion of the lumen of the cauda epididymidis [in rats] revealed that abdominal temperature soon brings a significant change in the transepithelial transport of H2O, Na+, K+ and Cl-, and in the Na+ and K+ levels in the luminal fluids in the cauda. The cauda epididymidis, as well as the testis, behaves as a temperature-dependent organ.