Leukophages in canine semen.
Spermiophages and leukophages were found in teratozoospermic canine semen. Spermiophagy was the role of neutrophilic granulocytes. Leukophages are believed to be oversize macrophages transformed by and released from a chronic inflammatory lesion in the pelvic urethra or the prostate. The term leukophages was adopted to indicate that the cells phagocytize leukocytes, specifically neutrophilic granulocytes. Direct observations on living cells revealed a surprising interaction between these two cell types. It is inferred that neither of the phagocytic cells are related to the disturbed spermiogenesis nor the teratozoospermia.
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007962:Leukocytes; D008264:Macrophages; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009000:Monocytes; D010587:Phagocytosis; D012661:Semen / Q000032:analysis*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities