Ultrastructural changes in the rat superior cervical ganglion following prolonged guanethidine administration

Effect of long-term treatment with high doses of guanethidine on sperm transport and fertility of rats

1. Male rats treated with guanethidine 25 mg/kg daily for eight weeks had no demonstrable ejaculatory function immediately after cessation of treatment. Four weeks later, ejaculatory function had returned in two-thirds of the males, and after eight weeks, all males were able to deposit sperm in the vagina. However, fertility had returned at that time in only two of the nine males. On the basis of these findings it might be expected that fertility would return in the other males after a more prolonged observation period.2. At autopsy, 66 days after cessation of treatment, the vasa deferentia were congested and filled with viscous material, and along their course dilated regions and pseudocysts containing sperm debris and spermatozoa were found.3. The isolated ducts of the guanethidine-treated males showed a markedly increased response to noradrenaline if compared with ducts from control rats. Response to tyramine was similar in both treated and untreated rats. In view of the increased response to noradrenaline it may be concluded that the noradrenaline stores, which are sensitive to tyramine, were still reduced 66 days after guanethidine treatment had been stopped.