Antisperm antibody titres, immune complex deposition and immunocompetence in long-term vasectomized mice

摘要: Experiments were performed to determine sperm antigen-specific and non-specific immunological changes in long-term vasectomized BDF1 mice. Circulating antisperm antibodies, detected by immunofluorescence assay, observed as early 1 month post-vasectomy; titres increased with time highest animals that had been for over 2 years. Several aged sham-vasectomized mice also significant antibody titres, but the development of antibodies was significantly different from group. Tests general immunocompetence, on at various intervals up 2·5 years post-surgery, revealed a decrease mitogenic responsiveness both groups, no difference between age-matched groups lymphocyte responses or allogeneic stimulation vitro, vivo challenge picryl chloride (delayed hypersensitivity response) immunization foreign antigen (humoral response). Most developed epididymitis epididymal granulomas 9 months post-surgery. Patchy regions hypospermatogenesis some testes 3 post-vasectomy, spermatogenesis markedly impaired all examined. Orchitis lesions characterized immune complex deposition lymphocytic infiltration found three out 14 mice, compared none sham-operated Studies vasectomy-associated kidney inconclusive because similar patterns immunoglobulin complement glomerular basement membranes.