Copper was deposited by iontophoresis into vasa deferentia of animals, using 1 m. amp. current for 30-90 sec. in rat and 3 m. amp. current for 60 sec. in rabbits. The method was effective for a period of 9 months as a contraceptive. The effect of the metal was localised at the site of deposition and there was no effect on other reproductive organs. The mating behaviour and testosterone levels did not change. The utility of the technique in male contraception is discussed.
PIP: Results are presented of a study in which copper was deposited by iontophoresis into the vasa deferentia of 28 adult albino rats weighing over 300 gms and 14 rabbits weighing over 1.8 kg, to test the contraceptive effect. 7 rats were used as control, and 7 each were subjected to copper ionized for 30, 60, and 90 sec with a current of 1 m amp. 7 rabbits were controls and 7 were subjected to copper ionized for 60 sec with a current of 3 m amp. The animals were mated with fertile females between 20-30 days, 55-60 days, and 85-90 days after ionization. Rats were electro-ejaculated between 145-150 days after ionization and their spermatozoa tested for percent of live and dead counts. Further tests were done on termination of the study after 9 months. After ionization, there was no significant change in mean weight of the testicles, epididymis, or seminal vesicles in rabbits or rats but there was a significant reduction in vasal weight in rats. Spermatozoa sampled from the distal end of the vas deferens had a motility of 14% in the 30 sec group of rats, 9% in the 60 sec group, and 4% in the 90 sec group. 45% of spermatozoa beyond the ionization site were alive in the 30 sec group, 9% in the 60 sec group, and 7% in the 90 sec group. Spermatozoa from the same site survived for 10 minutes at 37 degrees Celsius in the 30 sec and 3 minutes in the 60 and 90 sec groups, compared to nearly 30 minutes for samples from the proximal end. In the rabbits, sperm motility was reduced to 8% below the point of ionization, only 8% of spermatozoa were alive, and at 37 degrees Celsius they survived for an average of 7 minutes. Mating experiments in ionized rats showed dead decapitated spermatozoa during successive matings up to 3 months and only a few living sperm in the semen after 5 months. Mating behaivor was not affected. The effect of the copper was localized at thesite of deposition. Copper iontophoresis appears to be a promising method for male contraception.