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The testicular tissue, sperm cells, seminal plasma, and the male accessory sexual glands possess enough antigenic potency to induce autoantibody formation which can render the male organism temporarily or permanently sterile. There have been relatively few immunologic studies on male accessory sexual glands. The interest of the investigators has centered mainly on the possible existence of separate characteristic antigens, in the glandular tissue and in the secretions. The induction of antibodies in the heterologous sensitization procedure, and also the potential damage developed by the accessory glands themselves, were major areas of study. The cross reactions between extracts of prostate, seminal vesicles and seminal plasma were demonstrated. And it has been reported that antibodies against testicular antigens react with epididymal sperm but not with accessory glands, whereas anti-seminal plasma antibodies react with accessory glands and seminal sperm but only weakly with testicular antigens. The purpose of this study was to observe the immunopathologic effect of rabbit anti-rat seminal vesicular serum on seminal vesicular tissue of rats and the cross reaction against testes and epididymides The results were as follow; 1. The tubules of the seminal vesicle were atrophied and accompanied by destruction with degenerative changes of the epithelium and lymphocyte infiltration. 2. There were no definite histopathologic changes on testes and epididymides. 3. Rat seminal vesicular tissue showed at least four antigenic components on immunoelectrophoresis 4. The cross reactions between seminal vesicular antigen and the anti-epididymal or anti-testicular antibody were not demonstrated on immunodiffusion test.
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