Antigenicity of the Male Accessory Sexual Glands I. An Effect of the Homologous Prostatic Extract on the Male Sexual Glands in Rat

Hong, Sang Hyun; Kim, Sae Chul

Abstract

The immunologic properties of the male accessory sexual glands have been the subject of intensive research in the recent years. Hence, the ability of the male accessory sexual gland autoantigens to induce a specific humoral response seems to be fairly well investigated. In contrast, few studies on delayed hypersensitivity and specific tissue damage have been reported. The present work was undertaken to study the immunopathologic effects of the homologous prostatic extract on the male sexual and accessory sexual glands in rat. White rats were immunized with homologous prostatic extract and equal amount of the complete Freund`s adjuvant. Testes, epididymides, prostates and seminal vesicles of the immunized rats were histologically observed. Serum acid phosphatase and fructose of the seminal vesicular fluid were measured in both immunized rats and normal control rats The results were as follows: 1. The level of serum acid phosphatase; The mean value of the immunized rats (1.208+/-0.4 BU/L) was significantly decreased, as compared with that of the normal control rats (1.842+/-0.221 BU/L). 2. The level of fructose of the seminal vesicular fluid; The mean value of the immunized rats (63.1+/-18.1 mg/dl) was significantly decreased, as compared with that of the normal control rats (140.4+/-33.0 mg/dl) 3. Histologic findings of testes, epididymides, prostates and seminal vesicles; The testes and epididymides were not affected in all the immunized rats. The prostates and seminal vesicles showed similarly limited or extensive immunopathologic lesions in all the immunized rats. The lesions were mainly represented by mononuclear cells infiltration and an increase in the fibrous stroma, and flattening, vacuolization, atrophy or desquamation of the epithelial cells. The result indicates that the prostate has strong antigenicity and seems to have antigens which cross-react to seminal vesicular tissue.