Formation of antisperm autoantibodies in rats vasectomized at prefertile age

Bilateral vasectomy was performed in 40 inbred Lewis rats. Twenty prefertile rats were operated upon at the age of 2-3 weeks and 20 adult rats at the age of 10-11 weeks. Sera were sampled 16 and 8 weeks later respectively. Circulating antisperm antibodies were demonstrated in 90% of the vasectomized rats by means of the indirect immunofluorescence technique. No significant difference between the two groups could be found. Sham-vasectomy was performed in 20 rats age 2-3 weeks and in 20 rats aged 10-11 weeks. No antisperm antibodies could be detected in sera from either of these groups 16 and 8 weeks respectively postoperatively. Also, no antisperm antibodies could be demonstrated in sera sampled from 5 control rats at the age of 2-3 weeks or in sera sampled preoperatively from the 40 rats aged 10-11 weeks. Sperm granulomas were observed in 95% of the rats vasectomized at the age of 2-3 weeks, almost, all granulomas being located in the epididymis. 95% of the rats vasectomized at the age of 10-11 weeks also developed sperm granulomas. These were located in the proximal end of the vas deferens. The difference in distribution was significant (p less than 0.001).