Immunocytochemical localisation of the antibody which breaches the blood-testis barrier in sympathetic orchiopathia.

The phenomenon of sympathetic orchiopathia, in which ischaemia of one testis results in histological damage to the contralateral testis, is now well documented. This study used immunocytochemical techniques to investigate whether this damage is caused by antibody penetrating the "blood-testis" barrier and affecting spermatogenic and supporting cells of the seminiferous tubules. It has been demonstrated that IgM antibodies breach the "blood-testis" barrier of the contralateral testis 7 days after infarction and that they are replaced by IgG antibodies after 28 days. Cells affected are the epithelial cells of the membrana propria, the Sertoli cells and immature spermatogenic cells. Beyond 28 days after infarction no significant amounts of antibody of either class were demonstrated within the seminiferous tubules of contralateral testes.