Immunologic Aspects of Testicular Function

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-IX

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2. Introduction

   1. Introduction

      • Roberto E. Mancini

      Pages 1-2

3. Experimental Immunologic Orchitis

   1. Antigenicity of Testis

      • Roberto E. Mancini

      Pages 3-12

   2. Antigenicity of Spermatozoa

      • Roberto E. Mancini

      Pages 13-16

   3. Antigenicity of Seminal Plasma

      • Roberto E. Mancini

      Pages 17-18

   4. Antigenicity of Male Accessory Glands

      • Roberto E. Mancini

      Pages 19-21

   5. Antibodies

      • Roberto E. Mancini

      Pages 22-30

   6. Histopathology

      • Roberto E. Mancini

      Pages 31-37

   7. Pathogenesis

      • Roberto E. Mancini

      Pages 38-54

   8. Prevention of Immunologic Orchitis

      • Roberto E. Mancini

      Pages 55-58

4. Clinical Immunologic Orchitis

   1. Antigenicity of Human Testis

      • Roberto E. Mancini

      Pages 59-65

   2. Antigenicity of Human Spermatozoa

      • Roberto E. Mancini

      Pages 66-77

   3. Antigenicity of Human Seminal Plasma

      • Roberto E. Mancini

      Pages 78-82

   4. Antigenicity of Male Accessory Glands

      • Roberto E. Mancini

      Pages 83-84

5. Antisperm Antibodies in Male Infertility

   1. Clinical Findings

      • Roberto E. Mancini

      Pages 85-90

   2. Immunologic Pathogenesis

      • Roberto E. Mancini

      Pages 91-95

6. Conclusions

   1. Conclusions

      • Roberto E. Mancini

      Pages 96-98

7. Back Matter

   Pages 99-116

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It has become increasingly evident within the last few decades that immunologic factors are involved in some aspects of the reproductive process and hence in the physiology and pathology of the genital tract. The concept that immune phenomena participate in human reproduction is not new. There are examples throughout the history of man that immune phenomena may have influenced the reproductive process. For example, the Bible states that Sarah was sterile for a long time but conceived in the later years of her marriage. This could be interpreted to mean that continued exposure to her husband's ejaculated antigens re­ sulted in antibody response, sufficient to induce sterility. However, after continence of long duration, the antibody level declined and conception became possible. Another of speculation is Darwin's Descent of Man, which contains a number of state­ source ments to the effect that profligacy of women may account for their "small fertility". The inference is that repeated exposure to antigenic material in the ejaculate causes antibody responses that lead to infertility (KATSH and KATSH, 1965). This is directly related to the modern postulate that prostitutes do not conceive because of antisperm antibodies acquired by frequent contact with semen.

• infertility
• pathology
• physiology
• reproduction

• Centro de Investigationes en Reproduccion, Facultad de Medicina - 10°P., Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

  Roberto E. Mancini

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