Quantification of intraepithelial lymphocytes in the turkey uterovaginal junction.

Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) were quantified in the uterovaginal junction (UVJ) and sperm-storage tubule (SST) epithelia in virgin hens 22 wk and inseminated hens 2 to 4, 10, and 22 wk after the onset of photostimulation. The UVJ epithelium of virgin and all inseminated hens possessed about 1 to 2 IEL/100 luminal epithelial cells. There were no significant interactions between hen fertility 22 wk postphotostimulation and the percentage of IEL in the UVJ or SST epithelia nor did the presence or absence of luminal sperm influence the percentage of IEL in the SST of inseminated hens. However, the percentage of IEL in the SST (with or without luminal sperm) was significantly higher 22 wk postphotostimulation than in the similar tissue at 2 to 4 and 10 wk. It is suggested that IEL at the SST may act to sequester sperm antigens or represent an autoimmune response to some factor(s) associated with the SST.