Spermiophage cells in man.

The morphologic characteristics, occurrence, origin, and significance of spermiophage cells were reported. In the majority of patients with obstructive azoospermia and after ligation of the vas deferens, spermatogenesis continued normally and the spermatozoa so formed were eliminated by epididymal macrophages. The spermiophage cells are most probably derived from the monocytes of blood and tissue histiocytes. In order of frequency they were found in the epididymides of patients with obstructive azoospermia, rarely in the damaged seminiferous tubules of the testes, and in semen and prostatic secretions before and after vaso-epididymostomy or vaso-vasostomy. The occurrence of spermiophage cells in the prostatic secretions was documented for the first time. The ingested sperm heads, or the products of sperm disintegration along with some antigenic components, may be carried by macrophages to the basal capillaries; such a situation may favor the formation of autoantibodies against spermatozoa. This hypothesis is substantiated by the findings of various investigators.