RESUMEN
Slight ultrastructural and metabolic changes in the spermatogenic epithelium of the testicles were identified 10 min after cardiac arrest. One hour after direct mechanical cardiomassage (DMCM) a moderately pronounced edema of the intercellular spaces in the basal compartment of the seminiferous epithelium, normal content of lactate and succinate dehydrogenases, and a certain decrease in the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases and NAD- and NADP-diaphorases were noted. Preservation of tight junctions between Sertoli cells, presenting an impermeable testicular barrier, both after cardiac arrest and DMCM suggest that the hypoxic alterations in the structure and metabolism do not interfere with the use of the testicles for transplantation.