Chronic inflammation of the male genital tract impairs fertility

MARTINEZ, MARIA SOL; FERREYRA, FERNANDO NICOLAS; PAIRA, DANIELA A.; OLIVERA, CAROLINA; RIVERO, VIRGINIA E.; MOTRICH, RUBEN D.

Mar del Plata

Congreso; Reunión Conjunta SAIC, SAI&FAIC, SAFIS 2022; 2022

Urogenital inflammation has been proposed as a cause of male infertility as epidemiological studies revealed that it underlies at least 15% of male infertility cases. However, supporting evidence from animal models is scarce. Herein, we analyzed the development of Experimental Autoimmune Prostatitis (EAP) and its impact on fertility. C57BL/6 male mice were immunized with prostate antigens (PA) or saline on days 0 and 15. At day 24, males were mated with BALB/c female mice and different fertility parameters and uterine immune changes that occur after insemination were analyzed. Male mice were euthanized on day 26 and the specific immune response and prostate histopathology were assessed. Chronic pelvic pain development was evidenced by increased allodynia responses in PA-immunized male mice. Furthermore, significantly increased PA-specific lymphoproliferative responses with IFNg and IL17 secretion (p