Lewis J, McDonald S W
Department of Anatomy, University of Glasgow, UK.
J Anat. 1992 Dec;181 ( Pt 3)(Pt 3):471-9.
Following vasectomy, sperm granulomas are generally believed to be important sites of access of spermatozoal antigens to the immune system. This study tests the validity of that assumption by grafting tissues from a sperm granuloma to an ectopic site (the scrotal skin) and studying the effect on the regional (inguinal) lymph node. Xiphoid cartilage provided the graft material in control animals. The experimental lymph nodes showed significant increases in weight and in the number of sectional profiles of cortical nodules indicating that they were stimulated by the presence of the granuloma tissue. To investigate the mechanism of lymph node stimulation further, a group of rats underwent unilateral vasectomy followed after 7 wk by ipsilateral orchidectomy. Three months after the initial operation the histological features of the regional (left renal) lymph node of the epididymis and granuloma were compared with corresponding nodes from rats 3 months following unilateral vasectomy only and following sham operation. The results indicate that continuous sperm production is required to sustain activity of the regional lymph nodes despite the continued presence of spermatozoa in the sperm granuloma.
输精管结扎术后，精子肉芽肿通常被认为是精子抗原进入免疫系统的重要部位。本研究通过将精子肉芽肿组织移植到异位部位（阴囊皮肤）并研究其对局部（腹股沟）淋巴结的影响，来检验这一假设的正确性。剑突软骨作为对照动物的移植材料。实验侧淋巴结的重量和皮质小结的切片数量显著增加，表明它们受到肉芽肿组织的刺激。为了进一步研究淋巴结刺激的机制，一组大鼠接受单侧输精管结扎，7周后进行同侧睾丸切除术。初始手术后3个月，将附睾和肉芽肿局部（左肾）淋巴结的组织学特征与仅接受单侧输精管结扎和假手术后3个月大鼠的相应淋巴结进行比较。结果表明，尽管精子肉芽肿中持续存在精子，但仍需要持续产生精子来维持局部淋巴结的活性。
