BACKGROUND Infection and inflammation of the reproductive tract are significant causes of
male factor infertility. Ascending infections caused by sexually transmitted bacteria or urinary …

The mammalian testis possesses a special immunological environment because of its
properties of remarkable immune privilege and effective local innate immunity. Testicular …

Testicular germ cells, which appear after the establishment of central tolerance, express
novel cell surface and intracellular proteins that can be recognized as 'foreign antigens' by …

The testis presents a special immunological environment, considering its property of
immune privilege that tolerates allo-and auto-antigens. Testicular immune privilege was …

Protection of the spermatogenic cells from the host immune response is fundamental to male
fertility. Significantly, this protection extends to the tolerance of foreign tissue grafts placed …

The elucidation of how individual components of the Sertoli cell junctional complexes form
and are dismantled to allow not only individual cells but whole syncytia of germinal cells to …

The immune privilege of the testes is necessary to prevent immune attacks to gamete-
specific antigens and paternal major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens, allowing …

A rat epididymal protein of 27 kDa was identified using neonatal tolerization. This study
reports the production and characterization of a polyclonal antiserum to this protein. ELISA …

It has long been thought that mammalian Sertoli cells are terminally differentiated and
nondividing postpuberty. For most previous in vitro studies immature rodent testes have …

The blood-testis barrier (BTB) is known for its ability to create an immune privilege site in the
seminiferous epithelium, but less is known of the blood-epididymal barrier (BEB). It is …