Whole transcriptome sequencing of UPEC-infected testis and epididymis (5d) following depletion of CX3CR1+ macrophages

This balance is especially critical in the epididymis, where sperm mature and where it is often disrupted during ascending urogenital infections. While testicular inflammation is typically reversible, the epididymis undergoes irreversible tissue remodeling, particularly in distal regions, whereas proximal regions remain mostly unaffected despite bacterial presence.

We previously identified that each epididymal region has a unique immunological landscape, distinct from that of the testis. Notably, CX3CR1⁺ macrophages are the dominant immune cell type and appear central to maintaining homeostasis and orchestrating immune responses in a region-specific manner. To assess their functional role, we used a transgenic mouse model to deplete CX3CR1⁺ macrophages under steady-state and infected conditions.