Testicular biopsies were obtained from Wistar rats that had been infected artificially with Ureaplasma urealyticum, serotype 3. Approximately 50% of the biopsy specimens obtained 3 and 6 months after infection showed degeneration of the germinal epithelium, giant cell formation and Leydig cell hyperplasia. Electron microscopic studies revealed striking alterations of Sertoli cells, germ cells, and Leydig cells as well as ureaplasma organisms inside the seminiferous tubules. The changes noted in the ertoli cells were apparent as early as one week after infection.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Ureaplasma urealyticum and male infertility: an animal model. I. Artificial infection, breeding experiments and histological preparation of organs.

Male Wistar rats were infected with Ureaplasma urealyticum, serotype 3 or 7, by injecting broth containing organisms into the urinary bladder following laparatomy. Animals were sacrificed 3, 7 and 21 days after infection. Ureaplasmas were detected in the organs of the genital tract by culture in 43% (serotype 3) and in 60% (serotype 7) of the animals. Type-specific ureaplasma antigen was detected in the genital organs in 44% (serotype 3) and 45% (serotype 7) of the animals. Control animals injected with sterile bouillon were negative for organisms and antigen. Male Wistar rats artificially infected with Ureaplasma urealyticum, serotype 3, were mated 3 and 6 months after infection with ureaplasma free female rats. The mating experiment revealed a smaller mean litter size and a lower birth weight in the offspring of infected males compared with the control animals, but no general influence on the fertility of infected animals.

Animals↗