Cell recruitment to the sperm granuloma which follows vasectomy in the rat.

Sperm granulomas are chronic inflammatory lesions at sites of extravasation of spermatozoa from the reproductive tract. Using light and transmission electron microscopy, monocytes were identified in the wall of the early granuloma of the vasectomized rat. Some young macrophages contained sperm fragments and scanning electron microscopy showed them to wrap around, and partially engulf, spermatozoa. T-lymphocytes predominated over B-lymphocytes in the granuloma wall, helper cells being more numerous than suppressor/cytotoxic cells. The percentage of lymphocytes of all classes among the cells of the granuloma wall was higher at 3 months than at 3 weeks and 6 months after vasectomy, reflecting the high immunological activity known to occur at this interval after vasectomy in the rat.