Phillips D M, Mahler S
Anat Rec. 1977 Sep;189(1):45-59. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091890104.
Within 45 minutes after mating in the rabbit, numerous heterophil leukocytes adhere to the endothelium of venules in the vagina. Initial association appears to occur via small protuberances from the leukocyte which fit into small indentions in the endothelial cell. Following adherence, leukocytes flatten and pass between endothelial cells. A regular intercellular space separates the leukocyte from the endothelial cells. Leukocytes subsequently migrate through the connective tissue to the epithelium. By three hours postcoitus, the region beneath the basement lamina of the vaginal epithelium is crowded with numerous juxtaposed leukocytes. Leukocytes subsequently migrate between epithelial cells into the vaginal lumen where they actively engulf spermatozoa. Spermatozoa appear to be ingested head first. Numerous small filaments are observed in the leukocyte cytoplasm in the region adjacent to the sperm head. Degranulation of azurophyl granules follows sperm uptake. The leukocyte response can be elicited either by spermatozoa (from the epididymis) or by semen (from vasectomized bucks), but is not elicited by ovulation (with human chorionic gonadotropin). It is suggested that the response may be initiated because the vagina does not distinguish between semen, spermatozoa and bacterial infection.
在兔子交配后的45分钟内，大量嗜异性白细胞附着于阴道小静脉的内皮细胞。最初的结合似乎是通过白细胞上的小突起与内皮细胞上的小凹陷相契合而发生的。附着后，白细胞变平并在内皮细胞之间穿过。一个规则的细胞间隙将白细胞与内皮细胞分隔开来。白细胞随后通过结缔组织迁移到上皮。性交后三小时，阴道上皮基膜下方区域挤满了大量并列的白细胞。白细胞随后在上皮细胞之间迁移到阴道腔内，在那里它们积极吞噬精子。精子似乎是头部先被摄取。在靠近精子头部的区域，白细胞细胞质中观察到许多细丝。吞噬精子后嗜天青颗粒脱粒。白细胞反应可由精子（来自附睾）或精液（来自输精管切除的雄兔）引发，但不能由排卵（用人绒毛膜促性腺激素）引发。有人认为，这种反应可能是由于阴道无法区分精液、精子和细菌感染而引发的。
