Pampiniform plexus

Abstract: In rats the testis and proximal end of the caput epididymis are specifically damaged by cadmium, by virtue of injury to their vascular supply, the internal spermatic artery and pampiniform plexus complex. This injury does not appear when animals are given protective amounts of zinc. Cadmium causes no injury to the distal end of the caput, the corpus and cauda epididymis and the vas deferens; the vascular system nourishing this area, the vasal vessels, also remains uninjured. Blood vessels in other body areas are undamaged. These studies furnish experimental evidence for the premise that endothelium may have a morphologic organ speciflcity'' with different reactions to various forms of injury. (auth)

Abstract: The testicular artery in mammals convolutes to a variable extent before reaching the testis, and is closely surrounded by the veins of the pampiniform plexus. Evidence is presented suggesting that this vascular mechanism has a thermoregulatory function for the testis. Species differences in the degree of convolution and calibre of the testicular artery and its relation to the veins of the pampiniform plexus would appear to account in some measure for observed differences in abdomino-testicular temperature gradient. Experiments on dogs, rams, and goats also indicate that the close relation of the pampiniform plexus of veins to the testicular artery is well adapted to bringing about preheating or precooling of arterial blood flow to the testis. We are indebted to Prof. H. C. Bazett for the method of soldering the thermocouples and gifts of plastic tubing, and for his interest in the initial stages of these experiments. We also wish to thank the late Dr A. E. Barclay for his help with the radiography in this investigation.

Abstract: Percutaneous retrograde venography was performed in 717 patients with a left-sided idiopathic varicocele. In 674 (94.0%), testicular (internal spermatic) vein insufficiency was proved by contrast medium reflux from the left renal vein into the testicular vein, down to the pampiniform plexus. The different venographic patterns of the testicular veins were classified into seven basic types. Five of these, comprising 624 patients, had incompetent or missing valves all along the trunk of the testicular vein. In 554 of the 624 (88.8%), sclerotherapy was performed, but such treatment was possible in only three of 50 patients with a competent orifice valve bypassed by an insufficient collateral (type IVb). In 43 of the 717 patients (6.0%), no insufficient vein could be found at all (type 0). The mean fluoroscopy time was 4.4 minutes. There were no serious complications associated with venography or sclerotherapy, and the initial recurrence rate was 9.8%. Percutaneous sclerotherapy is therefore a simple, safe, an...

Abstract: Ten male goats and five rams were examined from 11 and 15 weeks of age, respectively, for six months to study the ultrasonic appearance of normal testes and epididymides before and after puberty. Five adult rams with lesions of these organs were also examined. A portable, B-mode, real time scanner fitted with a 7.5 MHz, linear array transducer was used. The testis appeared as a homogeneous and moderately echogenic structure with a centrally located mediastinum testis represented by an hyperechogenic line in images taken in the longitudinal plane and by an almost circular spot in transverse images. The testicular capsule and skin were evident as a distinct hyperechogenic line encircling the testicular parenchyma. A thin non-echogenic layer of fluid, presumably between two layers of tunica vaginalis, was observed. The tail of the epididymis was more heterogeneous and less echogenic than the testis. The epididymal head was also less echogenic but homogeneous in texture, and the body of the epididymis was difficult to image. The pampiniform plexus was easily identified as numerous convoluted sonolucent tubular structures. The ultrasonic images of possible cases of epididymitis, spermatocele, testicular cyst and abscess and scrotal hernia are described.