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Reserpine treatment increases viscosity of fluid in the epididymis of rats.

Reserpine treatment in rats induces morphological and functional disturbances in exocrine glands which resemble those produced by cystic fibrosis. The general feature is a decrease in fluid secretion with a rise in mucous concentration and altered electrolyte composition. Chronically reserpinized rats have therefore been used as an animal model for the disease. It is known that cystic fibrosis men are infertile due to obstruction of the epididymal duct with inspissated material, a phenomenon that may be secondary to abnormal electrolyte and water transport in the epididymis. Male rats were treated with reserpine (0.5 mg/kg/day) for 12 to 14 days. At the end of the treatment, epididymal fluids were flushed out from the cauda epididymidis for measurement of spermatocrit, viscosity, total protein concentration, sperm concentration and motility. It was found that reserpine treatment caused a rise in viscosity (by 40%), spermatocrit, sperm concentration, and protein concentration. These changes were observed in the epididymis of rats that had been efferent duct-ligated before reserpine treatment. Despite a rise in viscosity of the fluid bathing the spermatozoa, the viability of the stored spermatozoa was apparently normal. Spermatozoa were able to initiate forward motility when suspended in a sodium-containing medium. Testis fluid secretion measured by weight gain after efferent duct ligation for 16 h was not affected by reserpine treatment. The change in viscosity probably was due to a decrease in fluidity in the epididymis. It is concluded that reserpine treatment in rats produced changes in the exocrine functions of the epididymis similar to those seen in other exocrine glands.