Urology
Volume 43, Issue 4 , Pages 521-524, April 1994

Relationship between antisperm antibodies and testicular histologic changes in humans after vasectomy

  • Jonathan E. Jarow, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • From the Departments of Urology, the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
    • Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
    • Department of Urology Bowman Gray School of Medicine Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27103
    • ,
  • Erik T. Goluboff, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • From the Departments of Urology, the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
    • Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
    • ,
  • Thomas S.K. Chang, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • From the Departments of Urology, the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
    • Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
    • ,
  • Fray E. Marshall, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • From the Departments of Urology, the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
    • Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Received 2 August 1993; accepted 20 October 1993.

Abstract 

Objective. To determine whether or not there is an association between testicular histologic changes and antisperm antibodies in vasectomized men.

Methods. Morphometry was performed on testicular biopsy specimens obtained from 19 vasectomized men and 21 fertile control subjects. Antisperm antibody status was determined on the serum of each patient and control subject using the indirect immunobead assay.

Results. Significant increases in seminiferous tubule wall thickness (p < 0.001), focal interstitial fibrosis (p < 0.001), and percent composition of interstitium (p < 0.01) were observed in vasectomized men as compared with control subjects. Serum antisperm activity was present in 74 percent of the vasectomized men but none in the control subjects (p < 0.001). There was no association between testicular histologic changes and immune status.

Conclusions. Vasectomized men exhibit significant testicular histologic changes and increased autoimmune activity as compared with fertile control subjects. These histologic changes are not directly associated with antisperm antibody status, suggesting that some other pathophysiologic process must be responsible.

No full text is available. To read the body of this article, please view the PDF online.

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: 0090-4295(94)90246-1

Urology
Volume 43, Issue 4 , Pages 521-524, April 1994

Article Tools