Table 3.

Complications associated with histopathological interpretations of inhibited fluid resorption and sperm granulomas formation in the head of the epididymis

INHIBITION OF FLUID RESORPTION
Potential Efferent Ductule Effects	Histopathological Complications
Luminal dilation	Dilation may differ depending on region of the ductule; a time-response may be involved; blind ending ducts may confuse the interpretation 3,88,154
Epithelial height decreasea	Can be absent even with large luminal dilation 77
Endocytic apparatus decreasea	Can be absent even with large luminal dilation; could miss with poor fixation 77
Microvillus border decrease in heighta	Can be absent even with large luminal dilation; could miss with poor fixation 77
Potential Testicular Effects
Testis weight increaseb	Species and time dependent; this can be transient; correlated with tubular dilation; must examine over time; may be unilateral 6,88,89
Luminal dilation of rete testis	Species and time dependent; may be induced during development; may be unilateral; could miss observation in histology section 78,88,89,126
Luminal dilation of seminiferous tubulesc	Species and time dependent; not all tubules will show equal effects; must section rete testis region, as this region may be more severe; luminal diameter may be dilated but tubular diameter may not be enlarged; may be unilateral 88, 89,126,147
Seminiferous epithelial degeneration (multinucleated giant cells, vacuolation, sloughing, hypospermatogenesis, apoptosis)	Species and time dependent; correlated with tubular dilation; must examine over time; ranges from normal to mild to severe; rete testis proximity may be more severe; may lead to atrophy 88, 89,124, 125,147,156
Atrophy of seminiferous tubulesb	Must examine after long-term effects; not all tubules will show equal effects; may be unilateral 88, 89,125
INDUCTION OF SPERM GRANULOMA
Potential Efferent Ductule Effects	Histopathological Complications
Luminal compaction of sperm	Dose and time dependent; not all ductules will show equal effects; proportional to dosage; may be unilateral; could miss observation in histology section 4,130,134, 135,171
Neutrophilic granulocyte inflammation	Dose and time dependent; not all ductules will show equal effects; may subside with the onset of fibrosis 4, 130,134, 135
Fibrosis	Must examine after long-term effects; may require serial sections
Recanalization	Must examine after long-term effects; may require serial sections 135,241,242
Potential Testicular Effects
Testis weight increaseb	Species and time dependent; this can be transient; correlated with tubular dilation; may be unilateral; must examine over time 4,130,131
Rete testis lumen dilated	Depends on location of occlusion and species; proportional to dosage; may be unilateral 129,223-225
Seminiferous tubular lumen dilated	Depends on location of occlusion and species; proportional to dosage; may be unilateral 129,223-225
Atrophy of seminiferous tubulesb	Depends on location of occlusion and species; proportional to dosage; may be unilateral 129,171,223-225

^aAppears to be ESR1 related.

^bTransient increase, then decrease following seminiferous epithelial degeneration.

^cDepends on the species and age or time post treatment or developmental.