Experimental chlamydial epididymitis.

Male Wistar rats were infected with the chlamydial agent of guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis by inoculation of chlamydiae into the vas deferens. Epididymitis was observed in all infected animals clinically and histologically. Chlamydiae were detected in the epithelium of epididymal tubules by immunohistochemical staining (alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase technique). Inflammation progressed from the cauda to the corpus and caput epididymidis leading to fibrosis of the cauda epididymidis 28 days after infection. Animals responded to the infection with a rise of both serum IgM and IgG antibodies.