13.
Alexander NJ. Possible mechanisms of vasectomy-exacerbated
atherosclerosis. Aust.J.Biol.Sci. 1982;35:469-79.
Abstract:
Our laboratory as well as those of others have demonstrated
that in experimental animals vasectomy results in immune-complex
deposition not only in the reproductive tract but also in
the renal glomerulus. We have shown that in two species of
monkeys vasectomy results in a significant increase in atherosclerosis
and have postulated that this may be due to circulating immune
complexes. We have shown a mild change in arteriolar vessels
in a small study of vasectomized men and have found a mild
but insignificant increase in systolic blood pressure in vasectomized
men over time compared to an age-matched group. One cannot
ignore the fact that persistent autoimmune responses to spermatozoal
antigens are generated in both vasectomized men and animals.
The paucity of direct information about whether vasectomy
exacerbates atherosclerosis in human subjects has made reliance
on animal studies unavoidable. But to date there is no evidence
that vasectomy causes a similar effect in human beings
