Variations in the lymphocyte subsets from testis of rats undergoing experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO)

P JACOBO, MS THEAS, VA GUAZZONE, C RIVAL, L LUSTIG

Rio de Janeiro. Brasil.

Congreso; 13th International Congress of Immunology; 2007

Sociedad Brasilera de Inmnunología, Unión Internacional de Sociedades Inmunológicas, Asociación Latinoamericana de Inmunología

The aim of this study was to detect the relevant lymphocyte subsets in the development of autoimmune orchitis. EAO was induced in rats by active immunization with spermatic antigens and adjuvants (E). Control rats were injected with saline and adjuvants (C). Rats were killed 30 days (d) (immunization period), 50 d (focal damage) or 80 d (severe damage) after first immunization. Variations in the CD4+, CD8+ and CD25+ lymphocyte subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry within the CD45+ leukocyte population identified in cell suspensions obtained from testicular interstitium of E and C rats. In contrast with 30 d, at 50 d we observed a significant increase in the percentage of lymphocytes (mainly CD4+ subset) in E vs C rats (CD4+: E: 13.251.79*, C: 1.550.24; CD8+: E: 6.320.50*, C: 2.120.45, *p