Immune responses in the epididymis: implications for immunocontraception

In recent years the need to develop vaccines against a variety of sexually transmitted diseases, the desire to treat male infertility and interest in developing alternative contraceptive methods have focused research interest on the immunology of the male reproductive tract. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge of immunity in the male tract. Both physical and immune mechanisms that operate to maintain the blood-testis barrier are discussed with regard to (i) their importance in preventing autoimmune responses against spermatozoa and (ii) how these can be overcome to induce specific immunity in the testis and efferent ducts. The role of both the systemic and mucosal arms of the humoral immune response are discussed both in terms of immune-mediated infertility and the induction of specific immunity. Finally some novel approaches to elicit immunity in the male reproductive tract are discussed.