Human Reproduction, Vol. 18, No. 8, 1574-1579,
August 2003
© 2003 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Experimental inoculation of the adult rat testis with Sendai virus: effect on testicular morphology and leukocyte population
1 GERM-INSERM U435, Université de Rennes I, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes and 2 Laboratoire de Virologie, Centre Hospitalier Régional de Ponchaillou, Rennes, Bretagne, France
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: bernard.jegou{at}rennes.inserm.fr
BACKGROUND: Surprisingly little is known about the interactions between viruses and the male uro-genital tract. These are important, as viral testicular orchitis, induced by mumps or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection for example, can lead to sterility. Moreover, semen is an essential vector in the propagation of sexually transmissible viral diseases. Here, we studied the effects of testicular infection with Sendai virus, a virus related to mumps virus, on the cellular distribution of viral particles and on testicular morphology, with particular attention to the testicular leukocyte population. METHODS: At 5, 9, 11 or 24 h post-injection of Sendai virus through the scrotum, the testes were fixed for morphological and immunohistological studies. Localization of virus particles and numeration of leukocytes were performed using specific antibodies and morphological criteria. RESULTS: As early as 5 h post-injection, a rapid and massive infiltration of leukocytes was observed in the interstitial tissue. The peritubular cell layer and the most external part of the basal portion of the seminiferous tubules were altered. The virus was diffusely located within the interstitial tissue 9 h following the injection whereas, after 24 h, viral proteins were restricted to the cytoplasm of infiltrated leukocytes. The number of leukocytes increased with time post-injection. Thus, 24 h post-injection, CD3+ T-cell number was 3-fold higher, ED1+ monocyte number was 4-fold higher and polynuclear cell number was 600-fold higher than in the control testes (P < 0.001 all observations). In contrast, the population of resident macrophages was unaffected by Sendai virus. CONCLUSIONS: Testicular viral infection causes inflammation including rapid recruitment of leukocytes. The experiments presented here provide a model for further studies on the etiopathology of viral orchitis, in particular that caused by mumps virus.
Key words: leukocytes/orchitis/Sendai virus/testis/viral infection
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  R.-M. Pelletier, S. R. Yoon, C. D. Akpovi, E. Silvas, and M. L. Vitale Defects in the regulatory clearance mechanisms favor the breakdown of self-tolerance during spontaneous autoimmune orchitis Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, March 1, 2009; 296(3): R743 - R762. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|