The Effect of Homologous Epididymal Extracts on Spermatogenesis in Mouse

Kim, Kab Byung; Kim, Kee Soo

Abstract

A number of tissues have been studied in the past with respect to their organ-specific antigens. In many instances it has been possible to produce autoantibodies against characteristic components. The testis, epididymis, and seminal plasma have been largely explored from this angle. Interest in the field of accessory glands began many years ago, when the first cross-reactions between extracts of prostate, seminal vesicles and seminal plasma were demonstrated. As a consequence, the possibility that some seminal plasma antigens might be present in the accessory glands before being secreted into the genital tract opened up a new approach to possible autoimmunologic damage of these glands and of seminal spermatozoa as well. The purpose of this study is made to observe the effect of homologous epididymal extracts on the spermatogenesis in mouse. Isoimmunization with extracts of mouse epididymis, administered with complete Freund`s adjuvant, has been performed in this study.The results were as follows: 1. The histological observations revealed that spermatogenesis was adversely affected by the immunization with homologous epididymal extract added with an equal amount of complete Freund's adjuvant for 6 weeks. It was observed that spermatogenesis was remarkably impaired in the experimental group whereas it was unaffected in the control group of male mouse. The results further indicated that the degeneration and exfoliation were found in the germinal cell of seminiferous tubules and in the epithelium of the epididymal ducts besides intercanalicular infiltration of m0nonuclear round cells. 2. The cross-reactions between extracts of epididymis and testicular tissues were demonstrated in mouse. 3. The immunological examination such as immune diffusion test and sperm agglutination test showed negative reaction on all of the experimental animals in this study. Therefore. the immunological change in this experiments seems to be caused by cell mediated immunity.