[3H]3-O-Methyl-d-glucose transport from blood into the lumina of the seminiferous and epididymal tubules in intact and vasectomized hamsters

摘要

Summary. The investigation demonstrated a restriction of [3H]3-O-methyl-d-glucose ([3H]3-OMG) net transport into seminiferous tubule fluid. Net transport of [3H]3-OMG into the cauda epididymidal tubule was even more limited. By 4 months after vasectomy, there was no statistical difference in the net transport of the isotope into the seminiferous tubule fluid, but there was a significant increase in net transport into cauda epididymidal fluid. These results demonstrate that the blood–epididymal barrier can be even more restrictive to molecular transport than the blood–testis barrier and that vasectomy can have subtle effects on characteristics of molecular transport in the cauda epididymidis.