MORPHOLOGICAL AND MORPHOMETRIC CHANGES OF THE EPIDIDYMIS IN EXPERIMENTAL ULCERATIVE COLITIS: A LITERATURE REVIEW
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ulcerative colitis, epididymis, oxidative stress, intestinal inflammation, spermatozoa.Annotatsiya
In this literature review, modern data on morphological and functional changes occurring in the male reproductive system, specifically in the epididymis, under experimental ulcerative colitis were analyzed. Ulcerative colitis may not be limited to the large intestine alone but can also affect the male reproductive system through systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, altered immune response, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. In DSS-induced colitis, damage to testicular tissue, decreased sperm quality, and a reduction in epididymal sperm count have been identified. Recent studies demonstrate the relationship between gut microbiota–immune system–reproductive system, particularly the mechanisms of Th17/IL-17A-mediated epididymo-orchitis development. At the same time, specific morphometric changes in the epithelial and stromal components of the epididymis have not been sufficiently studied.
