Journal of Clinical and Cellular Immunology
Open Access

Abstract

Antisperm Antibodies in Undescended Testis

Batool Mutar Mahdi, Riyadh Mohamad Hasan, Mohammed Abdul Mahdi AL-Kurtas, Nahla Ghanim, Leen Khalog Al-Galabi and Wafaa Hazim

Background: Undescended testis is the commonest genital malformation in boys. Men with a history of undescended testis have a reduced probability of fertility.
Aim of the study: To explore whether the development of anti-sperm antibodies and antitesticular autoantibodies might play a role in inhibiting the future fertility of cryptorchid boys. Histopathological and hormonal assessments were done for those patients.
Patients and methods: The study group consisted of 30 patients with undescended testis who underwent Sub dartous orchidopexy at The AL-Kindi Teaching Hospital and other private hospitals. Orchidopexy and histopathological studies were done for them. Hormonal assessment, antisperm and antitesticular autoantibodies assessment were done for them.
Results: The mean age of the orchiopexy patients was 12 ± 9.4 years. Histopathological study revealed testicular atrophy in 76.6% of the cases. Antitesticular autoantibodies were detected by direct immunofluorescence. Antisperm antibodies and hormonal assay in patients’ serum before and after operation illustrated no significant difference.
Conclusions: The late descent of a testicle into the scrotum may impair its development ending in reduced fertility because of histopathological changes (atrophy) already become apparent in the first few months of life. Development of antitesticular autoantibodies may contribute in this process because the ectopic position of testis that damage barrier. Therefore, hormonal and surgical treatments complement each other and should be provided before the child’s first birthday.