Autoimmune nature of spermatogenesis disorders in varicocele models in rats

: Partial decrease of venous drainage from the left testis in male rats induced development of destructive changes in the seminiferous epithelium at the site of operation and in the contralateral organ. Spermatogenesis disturbances in the rat testes (focal desquamation of seminiferous epithelium, disorganization and degeneration of germ cells, devastation of seminiferous tubules) resembles the lesion in men with varicocele. These data permit to consider the results of present experiment as varicocele modelling. Disturbance of permeability and of the fine blood-testis barrier structure in both testes was observed in experimental rats; the picture of morphological changes was similar to that of autoimmune orchitis; lymphocytes sensitized to spermatozoa antigens were revealed in the lymphoid organs of experimental rats. The results obtained permit to suggest the involvement of immunological mechanisms in the development of pathological changes in the testes affected with varicocele.