The motility responses of the sigmoid colon, rectum and external anal sphincter to sequential electrical stimulation of the anterior sacral roots (S2, S3 and S4) were studied in five patients with traumatic spinal cord injury. Identical and reproducible results were obtained. S2 stimulation provoked isolated low-pressure colorectal contractions. S3 stimulation initiated high-pressure colorectal motor activity which appeared peristaltic and was enhanced with repetitive stimuli. This response appeared to be frequency-dependent. S4 stimulation increased colonic and rectal tone. External sphincter activity was stimulated in increasing order from S2 to S4. These observations directly elucidate the central control of colorectal motility and may have implications in the treatment of severe constipation following spinal injury.

Within a group of 207 subfertile men, selected for testicular biopsy, histological investigations were made successfully in 194 chromosomally normal and 7 chromosomally abnormal individuals. Fifty-two per cent of men with a normal karyotype showed normal testicular histology, 31% showed a general depression of spermatogenesis and 8% showed deficiency in the late stages. Ten per cent had only Sertoli cells in the testis. The range of testicular conditions seen in the chromosomally abnormal men was similar to that found in the chromosomally normal. Meiotic studies carried out on 118 chromosomally normal individuals gave a mean chiasma count of 48-9 per cell. There was a positive correlation between high numbers of cells at diakinesis/metaphase I showing X and Y univalents and low numbers of cells reaching metaphase II. Meiosis was studied in 3 translocation heterozygotes, one 47, XYY male, one 47, XY+mar individual and one patient with a ring Y chromosome.

SummaryTen subjects with severe constipation due to complete spinal cord injury (SCI) had pro longed oro-anal transit time (p

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Similar ultrastructural defects were found in the spermatozoa of two oligospermic men attending a subfertility clinic. The majority of spermatozoa had a mid-piece of grossly abnormal morphology and the diameter of the tail was increased, due to an excess of outer-sheath fibres. Extra, as well as missing, axial-filament fibres were also seen. In both cases, only a very small proportion of the spermatozoa were motile.A testicular biopsy was performed on each man and although the histological appearance was normal, abnormal spermatozoa were seen in thin sections examined by electron microscopy.