The status and the state of the human epididymis

Abstract

As far as can be determined now, the general organization of the human epididymis, the regional character of its epithelium and luminal environment, and the maturation changes that spermatozoa undergo there are quite similar in many respects in both animals and man. None the less, the outcomes of some clinical procedures aimed at overcoming duct obstruction (high epididymovasostomy or microaspiration of some fertile spermatozoa from the caput or vasa efferentia) suggest a flexibility in the sperm/epididymal relationship that may cast an element of doubt as to the essential place of the epididymis in the chain of human conception. While such clinical results make it difficult yet to be quite sure that the epididymis has the same essential sperm maturation role in man that it does in the few animals tested, they raise intriguing questions as to the potential ability of the human vas deferens, and even the vasa efferentia, to contribute in that respect. The human epididymis possesses other traits which collectively seem to resemble the suppressive effects of subjecting animal epididymides to body temperature. In that regard, it is a real possibility that the elevation of scrotal temperature imposed by clothing may be affecting in an adverse manner several aspects of epididymal function, especially those concerned with the storage and viability of spermatozoa, and thereby the quality of the ejaculate.