A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF MAST-CELLS AND EOSINOPHIL LEUKOCYTES IN THE MAMMALIAN TESTIS

The existence of a physiological integration between the immune and en docrine systems has long been recognized. In spite of the abundant lit erature data on the presence of cells of the immune system in the test is, mast cells and eosinophil leukocytes have received little attentio n. We have studied the presence, distribution and numbers of mast cell s and eosinophils in the testes of 12 mammalian species. Mast cells we re frequently found in equine (stallion, ass and mule) and human testi s, whereas eosinophils were nearly absent. On the contrary, eosinophil s were abundant in the hare testis, while mast cells were lacking. Bot h cells types were present in high numbers in swine (wild and domestic boar) testis. Otherwise, mast cells and eosinophils were absent from the testicular parenchyma of several species (rat, dog, cat, bull and deer), although they were present, in most cases, around blood vessels in the tunica albuginea. The presence of high numbers of mast cells a nd/or eosinophil leukocytes in the testicular parenchyma of some speci es suggest a role for these cells in local regulatory pathways.