Ultrastructural Studies of Semen Abnormalities and Herpesvirus Associated With Cultured Testicular Cells From Domestic Turkeys

Abstract

Abnormal cells and macrophages found in white and yellow turkey semen were studied by electron microscopy. Yellow semen contained many abnormal cells, most of which were large and round or smaller and ellipsoidal. It was concluded that they were aberrant spermatids, with differentiation being more complete in the smaller cells. Only a few cells of the smaller type were detected in normal white semen. Macrophages were occasionally seen in white semen but were numerous in yellow semen. Phagocytic vacuoles of these cells contained structural elements of spermatozoa and abnormal spermatids. Virus particles were not detected in any of the seminal cells observed. Ultrastructure studies of cultured testicular cells obtained from several of the turkeys examined showed the presence of intranuclear Herpesvirus particles in germinal cells. Macrophages from the testicular cultures seldom were seen with intranuclear Herpesvirus, although these cells commonly were found with Herpesvirus particles and cellular debris contained within phagocytic vacuoles.

Frequency and structure of macrophages and abnormal sperm cells in guinea fowl semen

“…Finally, large residual bodies accumulated in the macrophages (Fig. 16) (Thurston et al, 1975), and the abnormal spermatids resemble those reported in a case of human infertility (Sun and White, 1979 (Barbier and Leroy, 1970) and the swan (Breucker, 1978), incompletely developed spermatids are found in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. Thus, it would be expected that such cells would be found in the semen during the decline in reproductive function.…”

“…The seminal macrophages were similar in structure and phagocytic activity to those reported in the semen of turkeys (Marquez and Ogasawara, 1975 ;Thurston et al, 1975). Their ultrastructure was similar to that of macrophages in the rete testis of the domestic fowl (Aire and Malmquist, 1979), except that the nucleus was larger in the guinea fowl and the macrophages had phagocytized a greater number of spermatozoa.…”

“…This problem was not addressed in this study ; however, the males were routinely ejaculated twice per week. Phagocytosis of morphologically normal spermatozoa has also been found in the turkey (Marquez and Ogasawara, 175 ;Thurston et al, 1975) and in man (Phadke, 1975).…”

“…In males of several animal species, macrophages are found in the reproductive tract and they increase in number after vasectomy or epididymal blockage (Tingari and Lake, 1972 ;Phadke, 1975 ;Thurston et al, 1975 ;Alexander ant Tug, 1977 ;Aire and Heath, 1979 ;Aire and Malmquist, 1979 ;. Aire and Malmquist (1979) reported large numbers of macrophages in the lumen of the rete testis of the normal domestic fowl, but the normal presence of macrophages in the excurrent ducts has not been found in other species.…”

“…In the domestic fowl, macrophages were never observed beyond the proximal ductuli efferentes (Aire and Malmquist, 1979). However, abnormal yellow turkey semen contains numerous large activated macrophages and abnormal spermatids, with the macrophages primarily phagocytosing spermatozoa (Thurston et al, 1975). A few guinea fowl males also produce semen with abnormal spermatids and macrophages (Thurston et al, 1982 (Figs.…”