Immune Regulation in the Male Genital Tract

Immune Regulation in the Male Genital Tract

Spermatozoa are not produced until puberty, long after the establishment of tolerance to self-antigens. Therefore, sperm-specific antigens are immunogenic in men. Most men, however, do not produce antibodies to their own gametes. Development of mechanisms to prevent or limit autoimmune responses to spermatozoa were essential for preservation of reproductive capacity. Tight junctions between adj...

Mucosal and Systemic Immune Human Male Genital Tract Secretions: Both

Cancer of the male genital tract.

Partial penectomy is effective in the treatment of T1 and T2 penile carcinoma with 80% fiveyear survival rates in the absence of inguinal metastases, and the residual stump is serviceable for upright micturition and sexual function. The use of micrographic surgery first introduced by Mohs in 1941 for small distally located lesions of upto one centimetre diametre achieves results comparable to p...

The distribution of plasminogen activator in the male genital tract.

The distribution of fibrinolytic activity in the tissues of the male genital tract was studied by a histological technique. Preparations made from testis, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicle, prostate, bulbo-urethral gland, and urethra showed that most activity was related to the blood vessels. However, inconsistent fibrinolytic activity related to epithelium was found in all parts of the...

Infections in the male genital tract and reactive oxygen species.

In the male genital tract, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated by spermatozoa and leukocytes including neutrophils and macrophages. ROS are involved in the regulation of sperm functions such as capacitation and the acrosome reaction. Infections lead to an excessive ROS production, resulting in an 'oxidative burst' from neutrophils/macrophages as a first-line defence mechanism. This is m...