Abstract

Guinea pigs were sensitized with homologous testis or sperm or with ovalbumin in adjuvant. Control animals were uninjected or were injected with adjuvant alone. Seventeen to 60 days later, the animals were sacrificed, and portions of the following organs were taken for histological study: ileum, vas deferens, seminal vesicle, epididymis, testis and uterus. Segments of ileum, uterus, vas deferens and seminal vesicle were suspended in a constant temperature bath. These organs were tested for their response to drugs, nonspecific antigen and specific antigen. It was found that none of the organs of the control animals responded to any of the antigens. Of 53 males injected with homologous testis or sperm, all had ilea which contracted maximally to homologous sperm but not to heterologous sperm or to ovalbumin. Of the 53 animals, only 3 instances of contraction to antigen in vasa deferentia or seminal vesicles were observed. In these 3 cases, the contraction was minute and transitory. All of 10 animals which received ovalbumin had ilea which contracted when provoked with antigen, and in no instance did the accessory organs of reproduction contract to antigen. All of 12 females injected with homologous testis anol a similar number injected with ovalbumin had ilea and uteri which responded to specific antigen.

Histological examination revealed that the vasa deferentia and seminal vesicles were devoid of cells of the antibody series (plasma cells, lymphocytes), whereas the ileum was richly endowed with lymphoid tissue, and the uterus was heavily infiltrated with lymphocytes.

Since none of the available hypotheses explains the insensitivity of the vasa deferentia and seminal vesicles, a concept is proposed.