Cytokine responses to E. coli-induced epididymitis in the rat: blockade by vasectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To determine cytokine responses in rat epididymal tissues after retrograde Escherichia coli inoculation of the cauda epididymidis via the intact and obstructed vas deferens. METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: bilateral sham vasectomy followed by unilateral sham retrograde inoculation in the vas deferens (group A), bilateral sham vasectomy followed by unilateral retrograde inoculation of E. coli (group B), and bilateral vasectomy followed by left-sided inoculation of E. coli (group C). Three days later, the cauda epididymides and proximal vasa were subjected to histologic examination and assay for 9 cytokines. RESULTS: Groups A and C showed no histologic evidence of epididymal inflammation. Group B had leukocyte infiltrates in the inoculated tissue. Cytokine levels in the injected cauda epididymides were low in groups A and C; however, interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1ß, and IL-4 were significantly increased in group B. The 6 other cytokines showed no significant change after E. coli infection though tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-6 did show strong trends for increase. Contralateral epididymides never showed an inflammatory response. CONCLUSIONS: Experimental epididymitis induced by retrograde movement of bacteria in the vas deferens results in different responses by different cytokines. The cytokine responses and the histologically evident inflammation are prevented by vasectomy.

Experimental genital tract infection with Chlamydia psittaci (GPIC agent) in male rats.

The course of experimental chlamydial infection of the male genital tract was studied. Inoculation of the Chlamydia psittaci agent of guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis (GPIC agent) into the vas deferens of rats resulted in chlamydial infection of the epididymis, testis and the prostate gland. The inflammatory response was most prominent at 14 days after infection. Chlamydiae were recovered from the epididymides and the prostate glands for up to 90 and 60 days post inoculation, respectively. Histopathological changes associated with chlamydial infection of the epididymis or prostate gland were characterized by intratubular and interstitial purulent inflammation. Chlamydia-specific IgM- and IgG-antibodies were found in sera of nearly all infected animals. Results of this study indicate that this animal model may be useful to study the pathogenesis, immune responses and sequelae of chlamydial infections of the male genital tract.

The bacterial flora of the genitourinary tract in healthy fertile men.

The clinical significance of microorganisms in semen is unclear, as they may signify contamination rather than infection. Specimens from six locations in 97 healthy men scheduled for vasectomy were analyzed. Totally 1033 strains, aerobic or anaerobic, were isolated. Of 61 intraoperatively obtained vas deferens cultures, only one was positive. Of the 97 semen samples, 83% contained bacteria, 140 aerobes and 113 anaerobes; 44% of the strains found in semen and 58% of those in prostatic secretion were also identified in the urethra. The finding that 71% of the strains colonizing the coronal sulcus were present in the urethra indicates that the distal part of the urethra is colonized by a bacterial flora similar to that in the sulcus. The urethral flora may then contaminate semen and prostatic secretion. Presence of multiple bacterial species in semen was not associated with abnormal sperm function.

Lectin histochemical study on the reproductive tract in normal and Brucella ovis-infected rams.

Histochemical studies on tissue sections showed alterations of lectin-binding reactivities in the epididymis, seminal vesicle and ampulla of Brucella ovis-infected rams. These modifications in the carbohydrate composition of organs participating in maturation, transport, and storage of spermatozoa, could be involved in the impaired fertility observed in this disease.

Pathological changes associated with equine arteritis virus infection of the reproductive tract in prepubertal and peripubertal colts.

The nature and extent of changes associated with equine arteritis virus (EAV) infection of the reproductive tract was documented in 21 prepubertal and 15 peripubertal colts. This study was part of an investigation into the relationship between stage of reproductive tract maturity and susceptibility to the experimental establishment of persistent infection with EAV. After intranasal challenge with a field isolate of EAV, all colts developed clinical signs of equine viral arteritis (EVA) from which they recovered rapidly. Clinical signs during the acute phase consisted of fever, serous to mucopurulent ocular and nasal discharge, oedema of the limbs, scrotum or prepuce, scleral injection, conjunctivitis, icterus, cough, diarrhoea, stiff gait, lethargy, inappetence and depression. At necropsy, the most significant macroscopic lesions included excessive accumulation of fluid within the thoracic and abdominal cavities, lymph node enlargement and oedema of the reproductive tract. Colts killed 7 to 14 days after challenge had acute necrotizing vasculitis involving the testes, epididymides, vasa deferentia, ampullae, prostatic lobes, vesicular glands and bulbourethral glands. Vasculitis was characterized by striking fibrinoid necrosis of small muscular arteries with extravasation of erythrocytes and proteinaceous material into the media, adventitia and perivascular tissues. Colts examined on days 28-180 had lymphocytic and plasmacytic inflammatory cell infiltrates in the lamina propria and muscularis of the epididymides and accessory sex glands. The vascular lesions found during the acute phase of EAV infection contrasted with the multifocal lympho-plasmacytic infiltrates found within the parenchyma of the reproductive tract during the chronic phase. One peripubertal colt was found to be persistently infected with EAV 15 months after challenge. This colt had marked lympho-plasmacytic infiltrates in the ampullae at necropsy.

[Cytomegaloviral inclusions detected in the seminal vesicle, ductus deferens and lungs in an autopsy case of lung cancer].

We report a case of cytomegalovirus infection of the seminal vesicle and ductus deferens in a 32-year-old Japanese man with papillary adenocarcinoma of the lung. Although the lungs are usually a target organ of cytomegalovirus infection, most organs can be involved. However, the male reproductive system has rarely been reported infected with the virus. H.E. sections of our case showed cytomegaloviral inclusions in many ductal epithelia of the seminal vesicle and ductus deferens as well as macrophages of the lungs. Immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody to cytomegalovirus disclosed viral antigenicity in these infected cells. Electron microscopy recovered enlarged infected cells packed with viral nucleocapsids approximately 100 nm in size. These nucleocapsids were enveloped in the cytoplasm and consistent with the Herpesviridae family. To our knowledge, our case is the first report of cytomegalovirus infection of the seminal vesicle and ductus deferens in the English and Japanese literature.

Relationship between onset of puberty and establishment of persistent infection with equine arteritis virus in the experimentally infected colt.

The relationship between stage of reproductive tract maturity and susceptibility to the experimental establishment of persistent infection with equine arteritis virus (EAV) was investigated in 21 prepubertal and 15 peripubertal colts. Five of six prepubertal colts inoculated intranasally remained infected in the reproductive tract from post-challenge day 28 to 93 and two of six from post-challenge day 120 to 180. No virus was detected in five of these animals killed on post-challenge day 210. Each of two peripubertal colts remained infected in the reproductive tract at post-challenge day 60 and one of nine was found to be persistently infected with EAV 15 months after challenge. These findings confirm that the virus can replicate in the reproductive tract of a significant proportion of colts for a variable period of time after clinical recovery in the absence of circulating concentrations of testosterone equivalent to those found in sexually mature stallions. Long-term persistent infection with EAV does not appear to occur in colts exposed to the virus before the onset of peripubertal development. We suggest that colts should be vaccinated at approximately 6 months of age, before peripubertal development but after the disappearance of maternally acquired antibodies.

Expression of an endogenous murine leukemia virus-related proviral sequence is androgen regulated and primarily restricted to the epididymis/vas deferens and oviduct/uterus.

A cDNA representing a 5.2-kb defective, endogenous murine leukemia proviral sequence (EPI-EPS) was isolated from a C57BL/6 mouse cDNA epididymal library. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that EPI-EPS was predominantly expressed in the C57BL/6 mouse epididymis and vas deferens with 10-fold lower expression in the seminal vesicle, kidney, and submandibular gland. Analysis of tissues from other inbred strains of mice as well as the wild mouse, Mus musculus musculus, showed a similar pattern of tissue expression. EPI-EPS expression was also highly androgen regulated in both the reproductive and nonreproductive tissues of the C57BL/6 strain. However, a differential response to testosterone replacement was observed between tissues. Expression of EPI-EPS mRNA in the epididymis and vas deferens exhibited only a partial recovery to precastration levels after testosterone replacement; in the kidney and submandibular gland there was a complete recovery of EPI-EPS expression. Finally, EPI-EPS expression was also highly restricted in the female tissues, with expression limited to the oviduct and uterus. EPI-EPS, however, was not estrogen regulated in the female. These results suggest that a proviral sequence, EPI-EPS, is expressed in M. m. musculus and several inbred strains of mice due to its integration near a highly tissue-specific and androgen-regulated genetic locus.

Bilateral seminal vesiculitis and ampullitis in a stallion.

A Thoroughbred stallion suspected of having venereal disease was found to have an infection of the accessory sex glands. Purulent debris, blood, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were recovered from all ejaculates. Treatment with gentamicin sulfate, tobramycin, and amikacin sulfate was unsuccessful in eliminating the infection. The stallion's seminal plasma, collected during treatment with gentamicin sulfate, did not contain any appreciable antibacterial activity. Apparently, negligible amounts of gentamicin diffused across the mucosal cell borders of the accessory sex glands into the seminal plasma. Bilateral seminal vesiculitis and ampullitis were evident on examination of the reproductive tract when the stallion was euthanatized.

Prevalence and distribution of Haemophilus somnus in the male bovine reproductive tract.

"Haemophilus somnus' was isolated from 77% of 31 reproductive tracts of bulls from an Ontario slaughterhouse. Identification of H somnus was based on morphologic and cultural characteristics and on fluorescent antibody and immunodiffusion tests, using antisera prepared against a known pathogenic encephalitic isolate of H somnus. The infection rate and distribution of H somnus within the tract were as follows: preputial orifice--71% preputial cavity--71%; urinary bladder--26%; accessory sex glands--19% and ampulla of ductus deferens--10%. Isolates were not obtained from the testes or epididymides. On 2 occasions, H somnus was isolated in pure culture from the preputial cavity. A higher prevalence of infection was found in young bulls. There were no differences found in infection rates between breeds. Differences in hemolytic activity and minor antigenic variation between isolates indicated that a series of biotypes within the species H somnus may exist. The study indicates that organisms presently identified as H somnus may normally form part of the flora of the bovine prepuce and that dissemination from the male bovine reproductive tract is one possible means of infection in H somnus-associated diseases. The pathogenic significance of genital isolates of H somnus awaits further study.

Immunopathogenicity and oncogenicity of murine leukemia virus. III. Quantitation of spontaneous virus expression.

Electron microscopic determination of C-type virions in gut-associated and genital tract epithelia was made in various murine strains. The number of morphologically identifiable C-type virus particles varied more than 100-fold among strains, being high in all strains exhibiting immunologic disease, as well as several immunologically normal strains, and low in other immunologically normal strains. No relationship was seen between the number of virions found in epithelial and lymphoid tissues. There was, however, a direct correlation between numbers of virions in epithelial tissues and levels of serum gp70.

Herpesvirus type 2 in the male genitourinary tract.

A population study of 190 randomly selected male patients with no history of genital herpesvirus infection revealed a high incidence of herpesvirus type 2 in genitourinary specimens. This indicates that men serve as a reservoir of genital herpesvirus.