Active Immunity Induced and Spermatogenesis Suppressed by Testicular Antigen in the Male Japanese Quail (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica)

Abstract

Young male Japanese quail were given serial injections of homologous testicular antigen by various routes, some with adjuvant and some without. Control birds were injected with isotonic saline or saline plus adjuvant. When the birds reached the age of sexual maturity, data were obtained on serum antibody titres, semen characteristics, testis weight and histology, and fertility of tester females.The only two treatments which definitely induced immunity were those in which Freund's adjuvant was mixed with the antigen before injection (intraperitoneal or intramuscular). These two treatments resulted in detectable serum antibody titres against quail testis homogenate and also altered the testicular histology to a varying degree. The only tester females with significantly subnormal fertility were those inseminated with semen from the males injected intraperitoneally with antigen plus adjuvant. This semen was characterized by the lowest sperm density of any group and a high methylene-blue-reduction-time.The observation that spermatozoal agglutination (head-to-head) occurred in the vasa deferentia of some males with serum anti-testis titres suggests that circulating sperm antibodies can enter the male reproductive tract. As a result of this study, the male Coturnix can be added to the short list of animals in which active immunity and suppression of spermatogenesis have been induced by homologous testicular (spermatozoal) antigen.

Spermagglutinin Formation in Male Rats by Subcutaneously Injected Syngeneic Epididymal Spermatozoa and by Vasoligation or Vasectomy

“…The observation of Wentworth & Mellen (1964) that Japanese quails immunized with testicular spermatozoa had agglutinated spermatozoa in the vas deferens, is unique in this respect.…”

Induction of immunity to spermatozoa in male domestic fowl and effects on fertility

“…The results of Wentworth & Mellen (1964) are representative of the limited investigations reporting efforts to evaluate the effects of immunity to spermatozoa in male birds. Work with females, including repeated artificial inseminations as well as sperm immuniz¬ ations, have resulted in conflicting reports on the immunological impairment of fertility (Saeki et al, 1965; Itagaki et al, 1966;Burke et al, 1971).…”

“…In mammals, sperm antigens invoke an immune response, and specific sperm antigens are being used to develop potential immunocontraceptives (for a review, see Goldberg, 1986), but the possi¬ bility of immunosuppression of fertility in male birds has received little attention. The work of Wentworth & Mellen (1964) provides one of the few investigations attempted to date. In their work, the effects of immunization of male quail with testicular homogenates led to mixed results with respect to effect on sperm function.…”

“…In their work, the effects of immunization of male quail with testicular homogenates led to mixed results with respect to effect on sperm function. The work of Wentworth & Mellen (1964) may have been complicated by the use of complete Freund's adjuvant, because spermatogenesis was impaired, as shown by testicular atrophy (Freund et al, 1953(Freund et al, , 1954. Froman et al (1990) investigated the possible role of autoimmunity to spermatozoa in a line of subfertile roosters.…”

Immunological Aspermatogenesis in Man

“…These cause infertility agglutination, sperm immobilization, reduced ability of the Immunological aspermatogenesis in man. I 27 invade ovulatory cervical mucus, or by suppression of spermatogenesis (Wentworth & Mellen, 1964;Bishop & Carlson, 1965).…”