Vol 43, No 1 (2005)
Original paper
Published online: 2011-08-19
Modulation of testicular macrophage activity by collagenase
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2005;43(1):37-41.
Abstract
Testicular macrophages (TMs) are located in the interstitial tissue of male gonad. These phagocytic cells take part in
forming the organ-specific functional blood-testis barrier and participate in the regulation of the local hormonal balance. In the present
study, we isolated TMs from testicular tissues using previously described methods - mechanical (M-TMs) or enzymatic, by treatment
with collagenase (E-TMs) and then we studied production by these cells of several cytokines and reactive oxygen intermediates
(ROI’s). Similarly treated oil-induced peritoneal macrophages (PMs) were used as control cells. PMs had a higher baseline level of
production of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12 than M-TMs and collagenase treatment increased the production of these cytokines
(except IL-12) by both cell populations. This effect was significantly more expressed in TMs. In contrast to PMs, TMs produced
little ROI’s when stimulated by zymosan. We conclude that in the case of local inflammation in the testis, ROI-negative TMs do not
contribute to the tissue damage and instead may direct the local immune response into humoral pathway.
Keywords: MacrophagesCollagenaseCytokinesOxygen intermediatesTestis
![](https://journals.viamedica.pl/plugins/generic/popups/images/icons/close.png)