Abstract

PIP: The development of sperm-specific, cell-mediated immunity in postvasectomized rats was determined using 3 different types of assays: footpad swelling response to injected syngeneic spermatozoa; radioactive release from chromium labeled spermatozoa; and release of macrophage migration inhibition factor from lymphocytes responding to spermatozoa. 30 male rats underwent vasectomy with 1 of the following in groups of 10: 1) ligation of the vas deferens; 2) vasectomy without ligation of the vas deferens; or 3) sham vasectomy. Assays for cell-mediated immunity were performed 90 days postvasectomy. Cell-mediated immunity was present only in rats without ligation of the vas deferens. The swelling response to spermatozoa in Group 2 rats was statistically significant (p less than .01). A lymphocyte cell-mediated release of chromium from labeled spermatozoa was highly significant when Group 2 animals were the source of spleen cells (p less than .0005). Macrophage migration inhibition was significant (p less than .01) in supernatants taken from cultures of syngeneic spermatozoa with spleen cells of Group 2 rats, vasectomized without vas ligation. Possible reasons for these results were presented.