Lukehart S A, Baker-Zander S A, Lloyd R M, Sell S
J Immunol. 1980 Jan;124(1):461-7.
The nature of the cellular infiltration and the distribution of Treponema pallidum during rabbit testicular infection were examined by immunofluorescence and light microscopy. Low numbers of treponemes are demonstrable in the perivascular regions on day 3 post-infection. On days 6, 10, and 13, large numbers of organisms are found in the interstitial spaces. The treponemes do not appear to invade the walls or lumina of the seminiferous tubules, although tubular atrophy is obvious. On days 17, 24 and 31, treponemes are no longer identifiable by immunofluorescence in infected testicles. The cellular infiltration, which is apparent on day 6, reaches its peak on day 13, corresponding to the amount of swelling observed grossly. The infiltrate is primarily lymphocytic, but macrophages are also observed during the peak cellular response. These cells are located, as are the treponemes, in the interstitial spaces. The lymphocytes are demonstrated by specific immunofluorescence to be predominantly T cells. The peak T cell infiltration in the infected testicle is followed rapidly by the disappearance of the organisms from that organ. Thus, it is postulated that infiltration by specifically sensitized T cells results in the clearance of large numbers of T. pallidum from infected tissues.
通过免疫荧光和光学显微镜检查了兔睾丸感染期间细胞浸润的性质和梅毒螺旋体的分布。感染后第3天，在血管周围区域可检测到少量螺旋体。在第6、10和13天，在间质间隙中发现大量病原体。尽管明显存在小管萎缩，但螺旋体似乎并未侵入生精小管的管壁或管腔。在第17、24和31天，在受感染的睾丸中通过免疫荧光无法再识别出螺旋体。细胞浸润在第6天明显出现，在第13天达到高峰，这与大体观察到的肿胀程度相对应。浸润主要是淋巴细胞性的，但在细胞反应高峰期间也观察到巨噬细胞。这些细胞与螺旋体一样，位于间质间隙中。通过特异性免疫荧光证明淋巴细胞主要是T细胞。感染睾丸中T细胞浸润达到高峰后，该器官中的病原体迅速消失。因此，推测特异性致敏T细胞的浸润导致大量梅毒螺旋体从感染组织中清除。
