Infectious, inflammatory and 'autoimmune' male factor infertility: how do rodent models inform clinical practice?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Infection and inflammation of the reproductive tract are significant causes of male factor infertility. Ascending infections caused by sexually transmitted bacteria or urinary tract pathogens represent the most frequent aetiology of epididymo-orchitis, but viral, haematogenous dissemination is also a contributory factor. Limitations in adequate diagnosis and therapy reflect an obvious need for further understanding of human epididymal and testicular immunopathologies and their contribution to infertility. A major obstacle for advancing our knowledge is the limited access to suitable tissue samples. Similarly, the key events in the inflammatory or autoimmune pathologies affecting human male fertility are poorly amenable to close examination. Moreover, the disease processe

SUBMITTER: Fijak M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6016649 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature