HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tung, K. S. K. Articles by Dixon, F. J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Tung, K. S. K. Articles by Dixon, F. J.

Pathogenesis of Experimental Allergic Orchitis

II. The Role of Antibody¹

From the Department of Experimental Pathology, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, California 92037

Abstract

Guinea pigs with experimental allergic orchitis show an acute inflammation in the rete testis and epididymis. At these sites anti-sperm antibody is bound to sperm. The role of antibody in the production of disease was investigated. It was found that guinea pigs immunized to sperm antigens in complete Freund's adjuvant have autoantibodies in serum which bind in in vitro tests to the surface membrane of immature and mature sperm cells. The anti-sperm antibody when injected into normal guinea pigs, either systemically or in the interstitium of the testis, binds to sperm inside the rete testis and produces a mild acute inflammatory reaction at that site. Also, ¹²⁵I-labeled IgG from normal guinea pigs when injected into the testis can cross the wall of the rete testis into the lumen. Anti-sperm antibody and normal Ig, on the other hand, do not appear to penetrate the seminiferous tubules. The main barrier for the crossing of Ig into the seminiferous tubules may be the layer of cells external to the basement membrane. Thus, antibodies to basement membrane injected locally do not bind to the tubular basement membranes. Hence, the results suggest that antibody, although not directly involved in the production of aspermatogenesis, can produce an acute inflammatory reaction by binding to the sperm in the sperm passage system.

Footnotes

¹ This is publication 459 from the Department of Experimental Pathology of Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, supported by United States Public Health Service Grant AI 07007, United States Public Health Service Training Grant GM00683 and Atomic Energy Commission Contract AT(04-3)-410.

² Supported by United States Public Health Service Training Grant GM00683. Present address: Department of Pathology, University of St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.

³ Supported by California Division, American Cancer Society Fellowship. Present address: Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.