Male sterility induced by ethanol injection into the vas deferens
Freeman, C.; Coffey, D.S.
International Journal of Fertility 18(3): 129-132
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0020-725X PMID: 4357276 Document Number: 63617
At the Johns Hopkins medical institutions in Baltimore, mature male rats were used in an investigation of a simple, nonsurgical technique for achieving sterility. The technique involved the direct injection of 50 mcl of 95% ethanol directly into the lumen of the vas. The respective treatments for rat Groups A-F were 1) .9% sodium chloride injected into both vasa, 2) ethanol injected into both vasa, 3) ethanol injected into 1 vas, 4) ligation of both vasa, 5) ligation of 1 vas, and 6) ligation of 1 vas and ethanol injected into the other vas. The numbers of animals in the respective groups were 16, 22, 6, 15, 15, and 10. 2 weeks after treatment all of the rats were transferred to individual cages each containing 2 mature females. At 3 months posttreatment comparisons were made. In Groups B and F all of the rats were sterile. In Groups A and C, most of the rats were sterile (12/16 and 5/6, respectively. Ligations gave expected successes in Group B. Ethanol acts as a sclerosing agent; the pathological changes are described. Whether the method provides permanent sterilization is undecided. Testing with human cadavers has suggested the method is quite feasible for humans.