Distribution of leukocytes in the epithelium and interstitium of four regions of the Lewis rat epididymis

Abstract

Background Leukocytes expressing different surface markers were studied in four regions of the epididymis of Lewis rats. Cells resembling lymphocytes or monocytes had been described in the epididymis, but previous studies differed as to their nature and immunologic significance. Methods: Frozen sections were immunocytochemically stained with monoclonal antibodies W3/25, OX‐8, OX‐42, and RLN‐9D3, which are directed toward markers on CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, macrophages, and B lymphocytes, respectively. The concentration of stained cells in the epithelium and interstitial tissue of the initial segment, caput, proximal cauda, and distal cauda regions was determined by a procedure based on the optical disector method. Results: CD4+ leukocytes were present in greater concentration than CD8+ cells or macrophages in both the epithelium and interstitial tissue of all four regions. In the epithelium, the concentration of CD8+ leukocytes was greater than that of macrophages in the initial segment, caput, and distal cauda. In the interstitium, however, the concentration of macrophages exceeded that of CD8+ cells in both parts of the cauda. Macrophages and T lymphocytes were generally present in greater concentrations in the interstitium than in the epithelium, especially in the more proximal parts of the epididymis. In contrast to T cells, B lymphocytes were not detected in the interstitium or epithelium of any of part of the epididymis, despite prominent staining of B cells in other locations. Conclusions: The epididymal epithelium of the Lewis rat contains many T lymphocytes, which may correspond to ‘halo’ cells. CD4+ leukocytes predominate in all regions of the epididymis. The interstitium may function as a reservoir of leukocytes for the epithelial compartment. The epididymis is not normally a site for local immunoglobulin synthesis. Anat. Rec. 248:380‐390, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Effects of Lipopolysaccharide on the Recruitment of T Cells in the Seminal Tract of Roosters

“…T cell subsets have been localized in the male reproductive tract of humans (Yeung et al, 1994), rat, rhesus monkey (Dyme and Romrell, 1975;Flickinger et al, 1997) and mouse (Nashan et al, 1989). Also, we have localized T cell subsets in the rooster testis and seminal tract (Yoshimura et al, , 2005.…”

The Effects of Vasectomy on Epididymal Morphology and Sperm Parameters in Adult Male Balb/c mice

“…McDonald et al (1996), reported that vasectomy leads to a mixture of tubular dilatation and single or multiple sperm granuloma formation. Flickinger et al (1997) have recorded inflammatory reaction after vasectomy, determined by infiltrating macrophages and helper T lymphocytes all over the epididymis. These cells are penetrated into the epididymis epithelium from the circulation system.…”

Co‐expression and interaction of cubilin and megalin in the adult male rat reproductive system

“…These small cens are usually located basally and only have a small amount of cytoplasm surrounding their dense nucleus. Halo cells are the primary immune cells in the epididymis and have been recently identified as helper T lymphocytes, cytotoxic T lymphocytes and monocytes (Flickinger et al, 1997;Serre and Robaire, 1999).…”

“…Furthermore, epithelial cells of the epididymis have an additional function in protecting the spermatozoa from oxidative damage and foreign attack. An array of glutathione S-transferase (GST) subunits act throughout the epididymis to protect against electrophilic attack while the halo cells are thought to provide and immunological barrier in the epithelium (Veri et al, 1993;Andonian and Hermo, 1999a;Adamali and Hermo, 1996;Flickinger et al, 1997;Hooper et al, 1995).…”