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Evidence of antigenicity of testis and semen has been presented, since Landsteiner(1899), Metchnikoff(1900) and Metalnikoff(1900) first demonstrated the induction of a "spermatotoxic" antibody in animals sensitized with testicular homogenate or semen. However, real progress widening the concepts of immunologic impairment of spermatogenesis was made when a selective destruction of germinal cells was obtained in guinea pigs by auto or homologous sensitization with a single dose of homogenate prepared from testicular tissue, semen or spermatozoa, to which complete Freund’s adjuvant was added(Voisin et al, 1951; Freund et al, 1953). Since that time, immunology in reproductive biology has made great advances, and is at present concerned with the elucidation of the etiology of unexplained infertility. In an effort to develop a simple way to prevent conception, attempts were made to damage seminiferous epithelium in the male or to inhibit fertility in the female animal, by inducing sperm antibodies or by transfer of immune sera. Pokorna (1969, 1970) obtained an IgM serum fraction from mice immunized against testicular homogenate, 15mg of which when injected intraperitoneally into mice that also received a concurrent injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant into the footpad produced moderate testicular damage. Wilson et al (1972) also demonstrated that varying degree of seminiferous epithelial damage including aspermatogenesis could be induced by passive transfer of immune serum. Kong and Kim(1983) treated rats with antisperm globulin which was obtained from rabbits immunized against rat sperm, and they notice moderate impairment of the spermatogenesis and destructive changes of the spermatozoal acrosomes in the seminiferous tubules. The rats treated with antisperm globulin for 5 days could not beget more than one year. Interest in the field of accessory glands began many years ago, when the first cross reactions between extracts of prostate, seminal vesicles and seminal plasma were demonstrated. The investigators have centered their interest mainly on the possible existence of separate characteristic antigens in the glandular tissue and in the secretions. The induction of antisperm antibodies in the heterologous sensitization procedure and also the potential damage of accessory glands were major subjtects of study. The purpose of this study was to make an observation of the effect of anti-rat-epididymal globulin (AEG) obtained from rabbits on the spermatogenesis and epididymal epithelium. AEG was eluated by DEAE Sephadex A-50 from anti-rat-epididymal rabbit serum which was produced by immunization of female rabbit (New Zealand White) with epididymal homogenate of white rat (Sprague Dawley) and an equal amount of complete Freund’s adjuvant. The normal male rats were treated intramuscularly with 50mg AEG per K.G. of body weight daily for 5 days, and those treated male rats and the non-treated control rats were mated with sexually active normal female rats for observation of impregnation respectively. One year later, the effect of antiepididymal globulin on spermatogenesis and epididymal epithelium of those experimental animals were observed at the light and electron microscopic levels. The results were as follows; 1. On the light microscopic examination of the testicle and epididymis in rats treated with AEG daily for 5 days, the seminiferous tubules showed an impairment of the spermatogenesis such as degeneration of germinal epithelium, sloughing of immature cells and decrease in number of intraluminal sperms. The epididymal epithelium seemed to be intact but infiltrations of the mononuclear leukocytes and congestion in the interstitial tissue were noted. The intraluminal spermatozoa were decreased in number, but on the other hand immature sperm cells were increased in number. 2. Electron microscopic findings of the testicular and epididymal tissue one year after treatment of AEG for 5 days revealed degenerative changes such as increase in number and dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum, swelling and decrease in number of cristae of mitochondria, appearance of many lipid droplets in germinal epithelium. Some spermatids of testis had irregularly shaped distended acrosomes, lacking in electron density, with inadequate or no head-cap. The epididymal epithelium showed sloughing out and disappearance of stereocilia, severe deformity and vesicular or vacuolar dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum, increase in number of lysosomes, swelling and decrease in number of cristae of mitochondria. Intraluminal spermatozoa showed occasionally irregularity and sloughing of the cell membranes and destruction of the acrosomes. 3. Impregnation occurred even for 12 months in none of 10 treated rats with AEG, while all of 10 nontreated controls impregnated their mates.
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