IMMUNOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THERMAL INJURY

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Abstract
Unilateral thermal injury to guinea pig testes has elicited the formation of organ- and species-specific antibodies against a testicular antigen. The antibodies were of an IgG1 nature, and reacted with autologous as well as homologous testicular extracts. A significant number of burned animals showed pathological changes in the contralateral testis, which were similar to those observed after the induction of experimental allergic orchitis by active immunization with testicular tissue. These results indicate that thermal injury may be associated with autoimmunization of the host by the injured organ.