EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNE ORCHITIS AFTER NEONATAL THYMECTOMY IN THE MOUSE

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 46  (2) , 425-434
Abstract
Experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) developed in (C57B1/6Cr.times. A/JCr)F1 mice 3-4 mo. after neonatal thymectomy (Tx) without any sensitization. The age of Tx was critical for induction of EAO: Tx at day 3 (Tx-3) was effective, but Tx at day 0 or day 7 was not effective. This lesion resulted in atrophy of the testis and was characterized by disappearance of mature sperm, formation of multinuclear giant cells in seminiferous tubules and infiltration of lymphocytes in the stroma. Epididymitis was observed prior to the development of EAO. Presence of circulating autoantibody(s) against sperm (ASA) was demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence. The acrosomal area of mature sperm, but not of immature spermatids, was stained strongly. The incidence of EAO and titer of ASA increased when Tx-3 mice were unilaterally vasectomized (Vx). The majority of mice with high titers of circulating ASA were sterile. Epididymitis and orchitis could be prevented in Tx-3 mice by injection of adult spleen cells on day 4. The most effective source was normal male. Spleen cells from normal female donors and day-0 orchidectomized donors were less effective; those of Tx-3 male and female donors failed to prevent epididymitis and orchitis. The cell population in normal male spleen effective in preventing epididymitis was shown to be a T cell population (Thy 1+, Ig-) by experiments with respective antisera treatment. Sensitization with sperm autoantigen occurred in the epdidymis after Tx-3, more efficiently after Tx-3 plus unilateral Vx and this autosensitization was prevented by a specific suppressor T cell population which was present in normal males but absent in Tx-3 mice.