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Resident mouse peritoneal macrophages when maintained in cell culture phagocytosed and degraded homologous epididymal spermatozoa. The acrosome and its associated antigens were readily degraded, showing degenerative changes within minutes of spermiophagy and being completely destroyed by 1 h. Other components of the spermatozoon were more resistant and fragments of nuclear material and tail axial filaments could still be recognized within some macrophages up to 7 days after phagocytosis. The findings may be relevant to the disposal of spermatozoa in the genital tract in vivo.

Mouse peritoneal macrophages were cultured in vitro in the presence of autologous spermatozoa. The spermatozoa were found to be phagocytosed and degraded, with accumulation of pigment in the cytoplasm, during the first 5 days.

Obstructive lesions of the efferent and epididymal ducts in man were a common finding at necropsy. Although they demonstrated evidence of resorption of spermatozoa, they did not appear to be associated with the development of spermagglutinating antibodies in most cases. It is concluded that local spermiophagy within the genital tract in men is insufficient to lead to the development of antisperm autoallergy as detected by the tray agglutination test.