Antisperm autoantibody response is reduced by early repair of a severed vas deferens in the juvenile rat.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether antisperm autoantibody production after prepubertal vas injury is influenced by immediate repair of the vas compared to delay of the reanastomosis until sexual maturity.


METHODS
Animal study comparing early repair, late repair, and sham-operated groups.


METHODS
Research laboratory in a medical school.


METHODS
Lewis rats.


METHODS
After division of the vas deferens in juvenile rats, animals in an early repair group had the vasa repaired immediately by using an absorbable intraluminal stent. Animals in a late repair group had vasa obstructed by ligation until after puberty, when they underwent microsurgical vasovasostomy (age 60 days).


METHODS
Antisperm antibodies were assayed by ELISA. The weights of reproductive organs were determined, and samples of testis were studied by light microscopy.


RESULTS
The antisperm antibody response was less when the vas was repaired immediately than if the repair was delayed until after puberty. There was a low incidence of testicular alteration in the repair groups and none in sham-operated animals.


CONCLUSIONS
If the vas deferens is injured or obstructed prepubertally, there may be a benefit to considering immediate repair to reduce the likelihood of developing antisperm autoantibodies, which have been associated with reduced fertility.
Flickinger
C J
CJ
Department of Cell Biology, Center for Recombinant Gamete Contraceptive Vaccinogens, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville 22908, USA. cjf@virginia.edu
Vagnetti
M
M
Howards
S S
SS
Herr
J C
JC
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007106:Immune Sera; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014669:Vasovasostomy
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D007106:Immune Sera