Immunologic and testicular response in guinea pigs after unilateral thermal orchitis

Abstract Unilateral thermal orchitis was induced in adult guinea pigs by intratesticular infiltration with boiling saline. The immunologic response and lesions which developed in the contralateral gland were studied. It was found that: (1) With the exception of the sperm-immobilizing test, which was positive in some animals, no detectable anti-spermatic antibodies of complement-fixing or precipiting types appeared. (2) Delayed hypersensitivity, as revealed by skin test, was present. (3) Lesions similar to those of allergic orchitis appeared in the contralateral gonad and corresponding epididymis. (4) No evident difference was observable in this immunologic response when injured animals were in addition injected with complete Freund's adjuvant.