Preservation of the rat blood—testis barrier after ligation of the ductuli efferentes, as demonstrated by intra-arterial perfusion with peroxidase

Summary. Electron microscope examination of rat testes 1, 3 and 7 days after ligation of the ductuli efferentes showed that the horseradish peroxidase tracer penetrated into the basal compartment of the seminiferous tubules, but the marker did not progress beyond the junctional complexes between Sertoli cells. These findings indicate that in spite of the severe morphological changes brought about by ligation, the tight junctions between the Sertoli cells maintain their capacity to act as the testis barrier.