Determination of Auto-Antibodies against Spermatozoa in Experimental Cryptorchism

Abstract

In 70% of the patients with unilateral retentio testis the normal descended testicle shows damage in spermiogenesis too. The formation of auto-antibodies is considered as a possible cause. In rats with artificial uni- and bilateral cryptorchism, this mechanism was examined. The presence of auto-antibodies against spermatozoa could be proven by indirect immunofluorescence. After uni- and bilateral intra-abdominal displacement of the testicles, this phenomenon takes place after the 3rd month post-operatively, shows the maximum of titers after 6 months and decreases towards the 9th month post-operatively. An animal model is presented, suitable for the study of immunological processes in unilateral gonadal diseases.

Characteristics of Sertoli cells in the ectopic and scrotal testes of unilateral cryptorchid West African dwarf goats

“…The morphological similarities observed, demonstrate that abdominal retention of one testis in unilateral cryptorchidism does not affect the morphology of the contralateral descended scrotal testis. This finding is at variance with an earlier report of bilateral testicular impairment in the unilateral cryptorchid males due to auto sensitisation [26]. The disparity in the findings may be due to variations in species and experimental methods.…”

IL‐10 is highly expressed in the cryptorchid cryptepididymal epithelium: a probable mechanism preventing immune responses against autoantigenic spermatozoa in the epididymal tubule

“…This suggests that in the cryptorchid cryptepididymis, the risk for immunization against the spermatozoal autoantigens is greater than in the scrotal epididymis. This suggestion is supported by the previous observations that cryptorchidism (cryptorchid cryptepididymism) is associated with the presence of sperm antibodies (Rost et al ., 1981; Draehmpaehl, 1994; Urry et al ., 1994). Therefore, the present finding of high IL‐10 expression by the principal cells in the abdominal epididymis may balance the increased risk of autoimmunization against sperm in this condition.…”

Laminin, type IV collagen, and fibronectin in normal and cryptorchid human testes. An immunohistochemical study

“…The deficiency in type IV collagen, like other histological lesions of the cryptorchid testis, might be due to either extrinsic or intrinsic causes. Among the extrinsic causes, hormone alterations in the hypothalamus or pituitary (Hadziselimovic, 1982), autoimmune responses (Rost et al, 1981), and the increased abdominal temperature or other factors resulting from the extrascrotal location of the testis (Kiesewetter el al., 1969) have been discussed. The intrinsic causes have been explained as a primary, congenital deficiency of the cryptorchid testis (Farrington, 1969;Nistal et al, 1980;Hedinger, 1982;Amat et al, 1985).…”