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PubMed1992

Maturation-dependent goat epididymal sperm autoagglutination and its inhibition by a glycoprotein factor.

The maturing goat epididymal spermatozoa were isolated from different segments of epididymis and these cells dispersed in a modified Ringer's solution, were incubated at 37 degrees C for 60 min to evaluate their autoagglutination efficacy. Distal corpus-epididymal spermatozoa specifically showed high order of head-to-head autoagglutination property whereas all other sperm cells did not show any detectable aggregation. The goat epididymal plasma has been shown to possess an anti-agglutinin that markedly inhibits sperm agglutination phenomenon and also dissociates the cells from the sperm clusters. Epididymal plasma is the most potent source of the anti-agglutinin which is a heat-stable specific glycoprotein. Like the autoagglutination phenomenon, the initiation of sperm forward progression also starts in the distal-corpus epididymis. The temporal correlation of these two events suggests that sperm autoagglutination may be a prerequisite for the induction of flagellar motility during the epididymal maturity of male gametes.

Agglutination↗
PubMed2003

Effect of hCG on the morphology of rat epididymal epithelial cells in vitro.

The epididymis is an androgen-dependent organ. The hormones regulate the morphology and secretory activity of the epididymal epithelial cells. The cells in vitro resume their function as in vivo and also reveal features of steroidogenic cells. It can be expected that, as with Leydig cells, the morphology and function of the cells can be regulated by LH/hCG. The aim of the study was to assess the morphology of epididymal epithelial cells in vitro after stimulation with hCG. The experiment was performed on cells isolated from sexually mature rats. The epididymal epithelial cells were cultured in a medium with the addition of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Moreover, the cells were cultured in the medium with DHT and without DHT but enriched with hCG. The epididymal epithelial cells cultured with DHT formed a monolayer and accumulated glycogen, a PAS-positive substance and lipid droplets. The cells cultured without DHT were stellate in shape and low in glycogen and PASpositive substance but they contained lipid droplets. The morphology of epididymal epithelial cells cultured without DHT but after stimulation with hCG was similar to the morphology of the cells cultured with DHT. This was the first sign that the morphology of the cells can be influenced by hCG.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Steroidogenic characteristics of in vitro cultured epididymal epithelial cells of the rat.

The paper presents the steroidogenic features of cultured epithelial cells of rat epididymis and their ability to synthesize steroid hormones. The cytoplasm of epididymal epithelial cells accumulated lipid droplets and contained active enzymes of steroidogenesis. Numerous mitochondria with lamellar cristae occurred near lipid droplets. Frequently, mitochondria formed a direct contact with lipid droplets and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The hormone assay showed that the epididymal epithelial cells cultured without dihydrotestosterone synthesized and released the following steroids: dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone (T) and 17beta-estradiol (E). The levels of DHEA and T were very low. The concentration of E detected in media of cultured epididymal epithelial cells exceeded many times the concentration of E in control media. The cytoplasmic presence of organelles and enzymes that participated in the steroid synthesis indicated their similarity to steroidogenic cells. Epididymal epithelial cells were capable of moderate in vitro synthesis of androgens. It cannot be excluded that steroidogenesis in the cultured epididymal epithelial cells is maintained to sustain 17beta-estradiol synthesis pathways.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed2003

Chronic epididymitis: a practical approach to understanding and managing a difficult urologic enigma.

Many patients with unilateral or bilateral testicular, epididymal, or scrotal pain as their sole presenting symptom receive a diagnosis of "chronic epididymitis." This common clinical entity is diagnosed and treated by practicing urologists but essentially ignored by academic urologists. This article defines chronic epididymitis, reviews current knowledge regarding its etiology, and describes appropriate physical examination and clinical testing for patients with the condition. The recently developed Chronic Epididymitis Symptom Index is presented, which can be used for baseline evaluation and follow-up of patients with chronic epididymitis, both in clinical practice and in research treatment trials. Treatment options, from watchful waiting to medical therapy to epididymectomy, are reviewed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1986

[Regional differences of the clear cells in the mouse epididymal duct: a histological study].

Age-related changes in the clear cells and responses of the clear cells after ligation at the efferent duct or the junction between the epididymal head and tail were examined by light and electron microscopy with special reference to the regional differences in the epididymal duct in mice. In adult mice, the epididymal duct is divided into five segments (I-V) and the lumen distal to Segment II contains PAS-positive material in addition to spermatozoa. The clear cells had vacuoles and PAS-positive granules containing acid phosphatase. Electron microscopy suggested that the clear cells ingest the luminal material and condense it into the PAS-positive granules in the basal cytoplasm. The clear cells first appeared at 20 days of age following appearance of the PAS-positive material in the lumen. After 40 days, the clear cells became frequent and well-developed containing much PAS-positive granules in the distal Segment IV and Segment V, which were filled with abundant spermatozoa and PAS-positive material. After ligation at the efferent duct, the duct distal to Segment II was filled with PAS-positive material but no spermatozoa, and the clear cells in the proximal Segment V became to contain more abundant and large PAS-positive granules. After ligation at the junction of the epididymal head and body, the luminal PAS-positive material was scarecely seen in Segment IV but densely in Segment V and the clear cells were more developed in the distal Segment IV. The findings suggest that the clear cells are especially developed to absorb the luminal PAS-positive material in the distal region of the epididymal duct and may absorb different PAS-positive material in different segments.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Acute effect of hCG on testicular and epididymal levels of androgen binding protein (ABP) in the immature rat.

We have studied the acute effect of hOG and testosterone administration to immature rats, on testicular (particulate fraction and cytosol) and epididymal (cytosol) ABP levels. One and four hours after a single dose of 10 IU hCG/rat, ABP concentration decreased slightly in testicular membranes and cytosol, but increased markedly in epididymal cytosol (169 +/- 5 and 182 +/- 5 at 1 and 4 h respectively, compared to 113 +/- 13 fmoles/mg protein in control animals, mean +/- SEM). Since testicular and epididymal concentrations of testosterone increased after hCG, as expected, the effect might have been mediated by gonadotrophin stimulated testosterone production in Leydig cells. To test this hypothesis, the hCG effect was studied in rats that previously had received aminoglutethimide to block steroidogenesis. Under these conditions, hCG failed to increase epididymal ABP. Finally, administration of testosterone propionate was also able to stimulate epididymal ABP, but with delayed response: the increase was observed 4 h after injection (212 +/- 18 compared to 127 +/- 28 fmoles/mg protein in control animals, mean +/- SEM). It is concluded that the hCG-induced increase of intratesticular androgen levels results in rapid passage of ABP from testis to epididymis.

Androgen-Binding Protein↗
PubMed1966

Effect of ingestion of saline, glucose, and ethanol on mobilization and hepatic incorporation of epididymal pad palmitate-1-14C in rats.

The effect of ingestion of saline, glucose, and ethanol (isocaloric with the glucose) on the mobilization of radiopalmitate from epididymal fat prelabeled in vivo and the incorporation of the mobilized label into liver lipids was investigated in rats. The mobilization of radiopalmitate from epididymal fat and the incorporation of the mobilized label into liver triglyceride were most markedly elevated by ingestion of ethanol. Increased mobilization and diversion of epididymal adipose tissue fatty acids to liver lipids of ethanol-treated rats were shown also by the close resemblance of the fatty acids of liver triglyceride to the fatty acids of epididymal fat. The amount of radiopalmitate mobilized by the saline-treated rats, comprising approximately a third of that mobilized by the ethanol-treated animals, was larger than the amount mobilized by the rats treated with glucose; most of it was oxidized rather than incorporated into the liver fats. In glucose-treated rats a larger fraction of radiopalmitate mobilized from one prelabeled epididymal pad was diverted to and incorporated into the lipids of the contralateral pad of the same animal. The specific activity of hepatic triglyceride of ethanol- and saline-treated rats was similar and significantly higher than that of animals treated with glucose. These data indicate that the ethanol-induced fatty liver can be attributed to an increased mobilization and incorporation of adipose tissue fatty acids into liver lipid and to an altered hepatic metabolism of fatty acids and triglyceride.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytoplasmic extrusion and the switch from creatine kinase B to M isoform are completed by the commencement of epididymal transport in human and stallion spermatozoa.

Although in several species there is a relationship between epididymal sperm transport and fertility, in human in vitro fertilization (IVF), spermatozoa recovered from the caput epididymidis or even the rete testis are fertile. We studied two objective markers of sperm maturity in the sperm of men and stallions: creatine kinase (CK) concentrations, which are a measure of cytoplasmic retention in immature spermatozoa, and the ratio of CK-M and CK-B isoforms (% CK-M/[CK-M + CK-B]), which is proportional to the incidence of mature sperm. The CK markers and the fertilizing function are closely related: Immature sperm with cytoplasmic retention do not bind to the zona, because during cytoplasmic extrusion, the sperm plasma membrane is also remodeled. We examined whether changes in sperm CK values are still ongoing during epididymal transport, or if cellular maturation is completed prior to the arrival of sperm in the caput epididymidis. The incidences of mature sperm in human caput and corpus epididymidis (studied in six men with obstructive azoospermia of various pathogeneses) were (mean+/-SEM) 55.7+/-2.2 and 49.3+/-7.6%, respectively; and the sperm CK-M ratios in the caput epididymidis of three men were 72, 75, and 70%, values that are similar to those of ejaculated sperm. In four segments of the proximal and distal epididymis of three stallions (the origin of sperm was also verified by the position of the cytoplasmic droplet) and in ejaculate of five stallions, the incidences of mature sperm were 88.2+/-6.2, 89.0+/-6.7, 90.3+/-7.8, 87.6+/-5.9, and 86.7+/-0.8%, and the respective CK-M ratios were 75.0+/-8.7, 84.2+/-2.9, 87.9+/-1.2, 92.5+/-1.5, and 69.3+/-3.5%. There were no differences in the incidences of mature and immature spermatozoa or in CK-M ratios among sperm arising from the various epididymal regions or from the ejaculate in men or stallions. Thus, the cellular maturation events in sperm, as detected by the CK markers, are completed by the time the sperm commences epididymal transport. These findings are in agreement with the IVF fertility of sperm aspirated from the male reproductive tract. The data may also suggest that the primary role of sperm epididymal transport in men is to remodel the plasma membrane to enhance sperm functional integrity in the diverse environments of the male and female reproductive tracts prior to fertilization.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epididymal obstruction during development results in antisperm autoantibodies at puberty in rats.

An autoimmune response to sperm occurs after vasectomy, but there is little information on whether similar reactions occur after obstruction of the male reproductive tract at other points. Male Lewis rats received bilateral ligation of the corpus epididymidis or a sham operation at age 10 days, and the subsequent systemic antisperm autoantibody responses were compared to those observed following obstruction of the vas deferens. After sexual maturation, rats with epididymal ligations had antisperm antibodies on an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that were significantly higher than those of sham-operated animals and did not differ from antibody levels in vasectomized rats at the same ages. Western blot analysis showed that certain sperm proteins were recognized by antisperm antibodies after both epididymal ligation and vasectomy, including the previously identified "dominant" autoantigens at 73-83, 68-72, 48, 42, and 22 kDa. On the other hand, sera from rats with epididymal ligations recognized 60 and 52 kDa proteins that were not bound by most postvasectomy sera. Conversely, 42-48 and 38-42 kDa bands were more strongly and frequently stained after vasectomy than after epididymal ligation. The results demonstrate that antisperm antibodies are produced after obstruction of the epididymis and that the magnitude of the response is comparable to that after vasal obstruction. Differences in autoantigens recognized after epididymal and vasal obstructions may reflect maturational changes in sperm components that take place during the passage of spermatozoa through the epididymis.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Postoperative epididymitis after bladder surgery without vasectomy.

In 362 cases bladder operations were performed without previous vasectomy. The incidence of postoperative epididymitis was 15.4 per cent after transvesical prostatectomy, 3.5 per cent after suprapubic section, and 1.6 per cent after transurethral prostatectomy. The incidence was twice as high in case of diabetes and previous bilateral epididymitis, as in the other cases. The incidence of postoperative epididymitis was slightly increased in patients who 1. had not been catheterized before hospitalization; 2. had residual urines over 90 ml; 3. had been free from pyuria before surgery. The prevalent pathogens in case of epididymitis included coagulase-negative staphylococci, Ps. aeruginosa and Enterobacter. Involvement of E. coli, Proteus and Pseudomonas was confined to highly resistant strains.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Experimental Escherichia coli epididymitis in rabbits.

We describe an experimental model of bacterial epididymitis in New Zealand white rabbits. Inoculation of 10(7) colony-forming units of Escherichia coli in a retrograde fashion into the vas deferens reliably produced clinical, bacteriologic, and pathologic epididymitis. Inflammation was maximum at two weeks and subsided by one month without treatment. E. coli could be reisolated from the epididymides for up to two weeks post inoculation. We detected loss of spermatogenesis in both the ipsilateral and contralateral testes and the appearance of antisperm antibodies subsequent to the infection in some animals. There were 2 cases (11%) of histologic bilateral epididymitis after unilateral inoculation; one of these had bilateral clinical epididymitis with E. coli recovered from both epididymides at two weeks.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Prevalence, diagnosis, characterization, and treatment of prostatitis, interstitial cystitis, and epididymitis in outpatient urological practice: the Canadian PIE Study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence, diagnostic patterns, and management of prostatitis, interstitial cystitis, and epididymitis (PIE) in Canadian urology outpatient practice. METHODS: Representative urologists were randomly selected from the Canadian and Quebec Urological Associations. Each patient identified with a PIE diagnosis during a typical 2-consecutive-week period during April 2004 to July 2004 was requested to complete a corresponding Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (CPSI), O'Leary-Sant Symptom Index (OSSI), or a Chronic Epididymitis Symptom Index (CESI). Each day the participant urologist completed an outpatient log and a detailed programmed chart review to transcribe demographics, investigations, and treatments associated with each PIE patient. RESULTS: Sixty-five urologists were invited to participate. Fifty-seven (88%) agreed, and 48 (74%) completed the audit. Of the 8712 patients seen in outpatient practice (average 182 per urologist), 2675 were female and 6037 male. Prostatitis was identified in 2.7% of the men (n = 166; mean age 50 years; mean duration 3.1 years; mean CPSI score 19.7), interstitial cystitis in 2.8% of patients (n = 242; 211 women [7.9%], 26 men [0.4%]; mean age 50.2 years, mean duration 4.5 years, mean OSSI score 11.8), and epididymitis in 0.9% of men (n = 57; mean age 41.1 years, mean duration 2.5 years, mean CESI score 15.5). There was wide variance in investigations and treatments. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective audit indicates that prostatitis might not be as common as frequently believed and that interstitial cystitis is more common, and it represents the first estimate of the prevalence of epididymitis in urologic practice. The wide variance in investigations and treatments confirms the need for practice management guidelines.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Local antibody in semen for rapid diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis epididymitis.

Etiologic studies including micro-immunofluorescence serology for Chlamydia trachomatis were done on 45 consecutive men with acute epididymitis. Of the men 21, all less than 35 years old, had type specific Chlamydia trachomatis antibody in the semen. All patients with semen antibody also had Chlamydia trachomatis antibody in the serum, while only a few of the patients without semen antibody had serum antibody. Chlamydia antibody titers in the semen specimens were higher than those in the sera and they persisted longer. In only 1 patient with semen antibody was another potential etiological agent for epididymitis demonstrated, while most of the patients without semen antibody had bacterial causes for the epididymitis. It was concluded that measurement of Chlamydia trachomatis antibody in semen offered a noninvasive, sensitive and specific method, useful despite prior antibiotic therapy, for diagnosis of the etiology of epididymitis in young men.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

Experimental Escherichia coli epididymitis in rats: a model to assess the outcome of antibiotic treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of initial antimicrobial therapy with a new highly potent quinolone (sparfloxacin) on the outcome of infection, especially acute and chronic inflammation, in a rat model of unilateral Escherichia coli epididymitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 60 Sprague-Dawley rats, each of which received 0.1 mL of an E. coli (0:6 strain) suspension (106 colony forming units/mL) injected into the right ductus deferens. At 24 h after infection an oral antimicrobial treatment with sparfloxacin was initiated in half of the animals. The rats were killed 14 days, 3 and 6 months after infection, and both epididymes and the prostate gland cultured to re-isolate E. coli. To evaluate the grade of inflammation in both epididymes, histological variables, including acute and chronic inflammation and scar formation, were evaluated and a total inflammatory score, representing the sum of all variables, computed. RESULTS: Whereas antimicrobial therapy eradicated the pathogen, in untreated animals the pathogen was detectable for up to 6 months after infection in the infected epididymis and/or the prostate gland, while the contralateral epididymis was sterile. The inflammatory reaction in the infected epididymis was significantly less in treated animals (P < 0.001). Subclinical nonbacterial inflammation was present in the contralateral epididymis. CONCLUSIONS: Although adequate antimicrobial treatment eradicated the pathogen and reduced the grade of epididymal damage, inflammation was not avoided. Subclinical inflammation of the contralateral epididymis may contribute to impaired fertility. These results indicate that an inflammatory reaction initiated by bacteria might persist as a nonbacterial process despite early therapy, or by bacteria undetectable by conventional culture techniques, and may compromise male fertility.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Acute epididymitis and urinary tract anomalies in children.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI) and genitourinary malformations in children presenting with acute epididymitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-five children between 2 months and 14 years of age presenting with acute epididymitis underwent urine culture, abdominal ultrasound, voiding cystourethrography and, in selected cases, intravenous pyelography. Eleven patients were infants and 14 were older than 1 year. UTIs and genitourinary malformations were recorded. Fisher's exact test was used to compare the incidence in two age groups. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Seven UTIs and eight genitourinary malformations were diagnosed in infants, while in older children three UTIs and three malformations were discovered. Infants had a higher rate of associated UTI (p 0.049) and genitourinary malformations (p 0.017) than did older children. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show a close relationship between acute epididymitis in infants for both UTIs and genitourinary malformations. Every infant presenting with epididymitis would undergo a complete evaluation including abdominal ultrasound and voiding cystourethrography. In older children the need for imaging should be dictated by clinical history and physical findings.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

A survey of the prevalence of epididymitis in an industrial setting.

In response to concerns about the occurrence of epididymitis among employees at a Du Pont textile fibers plant, information was obtained from 1342 (94.8%) active male employees on history of epididymitis and/or orchitis (6.8%), prostatitis (11.5%), other genitourinary conditions, and vasectomy. Vasectomy was associated with an odds ratio of 3.26 (90% confidence interval (CI) = 1.96, 5.43) for subsequent development of epididymitis. History of prostatitis was also a risk factor for epididymitis (odds ratio = 5.02, 90% CI = 2.94, 8.58).

Delaware↗
PubMed1988

The relevance of Chlamydia trachomatis in acute epididymitis in young men.

Young men presenting to a General Surgical Unit with acute epididymitis underwent microbiological investigation, including culture for Chlamydia trachomatis. The results were compared with similar investigations in an asymptomatic control population and with patients presenting to the Department of Genito-urinary Medicine with urethral discharge. Chlamydia trachomatis was cultured from 15% of patients with acute epididymitis and a further 15% had serological evidence of exposure to Chlamydia. Nearly 50% of patients attending the Genito-urinary clinic grew Chlamydia from the urethra. The background prevalence of Chlamydia in the control population was low. It is necessary to identify the significant minority of young men with acute epididymitis associated with chlamydial infection, because of the risk of pelvic inflammation and infertility in their female partners. At present this can only be achieved by submitting all young men with acute epididymitis to full microbiological investigation.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Acute epididymitis: a microbiological and ultrasonographic study.

In a prospective study of 24 men (mean age 28.3 years) with acute epididymitis who underwent epididymal aspiration, micro-organisms were detected in 15 (62.5%). Chlamydia trachomatis accounted for 10 (42%) of the cases, being located in both the urethra and epididymis in 5 individuals. Chlamydial serology supported the diagnosis of chlamydial infection, there being a strong correlation between the detection of C. trachomatis and elevated titres of both chlamydial IgG and IgM antibodies. In 4 patients (mean age 55.5 years), Escherichia coli was cultured from both mid-stream urine and epididymal aspirate. Transrectal ultrasound revealed abnormal prostatic scans in 19 patients (79%). These data confirm the aetiological role of C. trachomatis, support the notion that micro-organisms spread intra-canalicularly and suggest that the prostate is also involved in the inflammatory process in acute epididymitis.

Acute Disease↗