Effect of testicular capsulotomy on lipid droplets in the seminiferous tubules of rats

Aim: In order to reveal the histochemical alteration that might occur during the processes of the spermatogenic dis-ruption induced by testicular capsulotomy, the location and alteration of lipid droplets in the seminiferous tubules wereobserved 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 thesham-operated rat testes, many small lipid droplets were located close to the basement membrane of the seminiferoustubules. 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 aprogressive fatty degeneration occurred in the seminiferous tubules after testicular capsulotomy.