[Experimental orchitis in white rats, caused by Ureaplasma urealyticum]

An experimental infection with U. urealyticum was induced in white male rats by intratesticular injection. The microorganism produced dystrophic necrobiotic changes in the spermatopoietic epithelium and a granulomatous inflammatory reaction in the gonads. The process ended with a focal atrophy of the seminal canaliculi. The morphological changes depended upon the reproduction grade and the survival period of the microorganism. The authors consider that these experimental data can be taken into account at the evaluation of the late prognosis of the genital mycoplasmosis in man.