The seminiferous tubules merge and connect with the tubuli recti that form the spaces known as the rete testis. Cystic ectasia of the rete testis is a rare benign testicular lesion. We report the cystic ectasia of the rete testis in a 66-year-old man.
Aged ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Humans ; Rete Testis ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Testis

For the study of the effects of aging on testis, the volumes of testis and Leydig cells, young and old aged rats were sacrificed. Twenty eight testes from the young aged rats were used as the normal control. Ten testes showing the atrophic changes and sixteen not-atrophied testes of the old rats were used. After measurements of the volume and weight of the testes they were fixed in Bouin's solution and their sections were stained by Masson's trichrome. The Leydig cells appearing at the graticuels attached to eye-piece of the light microscope were calculated under one hundred magnification. The findings were summarized as follow: 1. The atrophied testes showed degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules and had the slightly increased amount of the interstitium in comparison with the control. 2. The weight and volume of the normal control testes were 1.24gm and 1.19ml, respectively, and the proportion and the volume of Leydig cells of it were 3.78% and 0.045ml, respectively. 3. The atrophied testis of the old aged rats showed decreased weight and volume, 0.41gm and 0.57ml, but the proportion of Leydig cells was 9.15%, and the volume of the Leydig cells 0.052ml. 4. The weight and volume of the not-atrophied testis of the old aged rats were 1.73gm and 1.71ml, respectively. The proportion and volume of Leydig cells, however, were 3.04% and 0.052ml.
Aging* ; Animals ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Rats ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Testis

The effects of both hyperthermia alone and X-ray irradiation combined with hyperthermia on rat testis have been investigated. The histological changes were observed on 15 and 30 days after treatment. There was no histological change of rat testis by hyperthermia alone. The earliest change by x-ray irradiation was the degeneration of the spermatogonia of the seminiferous tubule, which was appeared in 2 gy group. Necrosis of the spermatogonia was severe in 6 gy group and complete atrophy was developed in 8 gy group. With increased dose of radiation, the degrees of changes of tubules was increased. In combined group of X-ray irradiation and hyperthermia, the histological change of the seminiferous tubule was more severe than X-ray alone group. Necrosis and atrophy of the spermatogonia were appeared in 2 gy and complete atrophy of spermatogonia was seen in 6 gy group. Thermal enhancement ratio (calculated at the complete atrophy of the spermatogonia) was 1.3 in this experiment. There was no difference in observation time inverval between 15 and 30 days after each treatment in all groups.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Fever* ; Necrosis ; Rats* ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatogonia ; Testis*

Additional two cases of Klinefelter's syndrome with a literatural review was presented Two cases were revealed characteristics of Klinefelter's syndrome such as small testes, hyalinization of seminiferous tubules, azoospermia, increased FSH, normal 17-ketogteroid and positive sex chromatin. One case was associated with left inguinal crytorchidism.
Azoospermia ; Hyalin ; Klinefelter Syndrome* ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sex Chromatin ; Testis

Number of germ cells in the seminiferous epithelium was analyzed quantitatively in testicular biopsy specimens of 23 patients without ductal obstruction and of 4 patients with ductal obstruction. Roth number of mature spermatids within each cross-section of seminiferous tubule and number of atrophic tubule were counted in biopsy specimens. Results were expressed as cell number of mature spermatids per seminiferous tubule and percentage of atrophic tubules. A significant correlation was demonstrated between sperm density and mature spermatid counts. Patients with sperm counts of less than 40 x l0(6)/ml had mature spermatids counts of less than 25 per seminiferous tubule. Coefficients of correlation between mature spermatid count and percentage of atrophic tubules were higher than those of correlation between sperm counts and percentage of atrophic tubules. In asoospermrc patients with epididymal obstruction, sperm count after corrective surgery could be predicted correctly by this quantitative analysis technique of testicular biopsy specimens and partial obstruction of anastomotic site of seminal tract could be proved in oligozoospermic patients after corrective surgery.
Biopsy ; Cell Count ; Germ Cells ; Humans* ; Seminiferous Epithelium* ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sperm Count ; Spermatids ; Spermatozoa ; Testis*

PURPOSE: This study was made to evaluate the clinical characteristics of testicular microlithiasis which shows small diffuse hyperechoic nonshadowing foci throughout both testes on sonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 1995 and May 1997, we had seen 15 Patients with dilateral diffuse microlithiasis of the testes on the sonography. Medical records were reviewed with respect to age at presentation, associated diseases, and sonographic and pathologic characteristics. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 8 to 69 years. The testicular microlithiasis was coincidental to the presence of erectile dysfunction(n=5), epididymitis(n=5), varicocele(n=4), epididymal cyst(n=2), infertility(n=1), testicular teratoma(n=1) and diabetes mellitus(n=1). There were considerable variations in the numbers of echogenic foci on each sonography that examined the entire half of the scrotum(from 15 to more than 60 foci). The histological examinations were done in two patients and sbowed the lumina of seminiferous tubules filled with concentrically lamellated calcified concretions. CONCLUSIONS: The testicular microlithiasis showed a wide range of age at presentation and associated with diabetes mellitus and a variety of urological problems including erectile dysfunction, epididymitis, varicoce18, epididymal cyst, infertility and testicular teratoma. The clinical relevance remains unclear at this time. Further additional cases as well as a long-term follow-up would be necessary to assess the association between testicular microlithiasis and these coincidental conditions.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Epididymitis ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Infertility ; Male ; Medical Records ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatocele ; Teratoma ; Testis ; Ultrasonography

Concepts regarding the evaluation and management of the infertile male have evolved during the past decade primarily because of the development of new methodology. Nevertheless, the causes of male infertility is often obscure, and the clearly defined causes are infrequent or rare. Testicular biopsy findings are basic and very important in evaluating the causes of infertility. The testis biopsy findings of 30 azoospermic patients were evaluated and it was observed in aspect of testicular size and past history. Following results were obtained. 1. Among the 91 patients who underwent semenalysis, 30 cases (33%)were azospermia. 2. In testicular biopsy findings hypospermatogenesis was the most frequent finding and the more severe hypospermatogenesis was the more atrophic the seminiferous tubule is and showed frequent Leydig cell hyperplasia. 3. Testicular biopsy findings revealed no specific correlation between small testis and normal testis patients. 4. In aspect of past history 2 epididymal tubercu1osis patients showed normal biopsy findings which suggest obstruction of sperm route and one cryptorchism and one varicocele patients showed hypospermatogenesis. 5. By testicular biopsy most of the cause of infertility was testicular and 3 cases were posttesticular.
Azoospermia ; Biopsy* ; Cryptorchidism ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Oligospermia ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatozoa ; Testis* ; Varicocele

It would appear that unilateral rupture of the testis causes the breakdown of sequestration mechanisms which normally prevent presentation of antigens within the genital tract to the immune system. We performed this experiment to evaluate the histological changes of contralateral testis following rupture of unilateral testis in rats. Left testicular rupture was induced in Sprague- Dawley rats by incision of tunica albuginea and partial resection of seminiferous tubules. After 1 and 7 days, the ruptured testes were surgically removed and all rats were fed for 5 months. And there was algo an experimental group that the ruptured tested were not removed and were fed for 5 months. Right testes were obtained just after being sacrificed in each group and histological changes were compared with the control group. The size of seminiferous tubule was markedly decreased and the basement membrane was thickened in groups that the ruptured tested were removed after 7 days and not removed for 5 months. Also, spermatid was not found and only sertoli cells were lined in these groups. However, these changes were not noticed in control group and the group that ruptured testes were removed after 1 day. These results imply that unilateral testicular rupture may cause histological changes of contralateral testis and early exploration may reduce contralateral testicular damage.
Animals ; Basement Membrane ; Immune System ; Infertility ; Rats* ; Rupture* ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatids ; Testis*

OBJECTIVE: ICSI with testicular sperm could achieve optimal fertilization and pregnancy. This study was performed to observe the influence on fertilization and pregnancy of motility of fresh testicular sperm and sperm extracted from frozen-thawed seminiferous tubules in obstructive azoospermia. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS: We analysed clinical outcome of ICSI using fresh testicular sperm and sperm extracted from thawed seminiferous tubules. The presence of motility were compared to determine the factor for optimal fertilization and pregnancy rates. RESULTS: In 316 cases of TESE-ICSI in obstructive azoospermia, ICSI with fresh testicular sperm (fresh sperm group) were 163 cases and ICSI with sperm testicular sperm extracted from frozen-thawed seminiferous tubule (thawed sperm group) were 153 cases. The fertilization rates were 71.3% and pregnancy rates were 32.5% in fresh sperm group, in thawed sperm group, 65.1% and 33.3% respectively. The fertilization and pregnancy rates of motile and non-motile testicular sperm were 72.9% and 33.6%, 50.0% and 18.2%, respectively (p<0.05). The fertilization and pregnancy rates of motile and non-motile sperm extracted from the thawed seminiferous tubule were 67.8% and 34.7%, 55.1% and 28.1%, respectively (p<0.05). The comparative of the results of ICSI using motile fresh testicular sperm and motile sperm extracted from thawed seminiferous tubule, fertilization and pregnancy rates were not significantly different (72.9% and 33.6%, 67.8% and 34.7%, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that successful pregnancy in TESE-ICSI treatment is influenced by the motility of fresh testicular sperm and sperm extracted from thawed seminiferous tubule in obstructive azoospermic patients.
Azoospermia ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy* ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Spermatozoa*

Orchiopexy is the generally recommended procedure to treat and to prevent intravaginal testicular torsion. But recurrent torsion of the previously fixed testis has been reported infrequently. Failure of orchiopexy leading to recurrent torsion has been attributed by some to use of absorbable suture material and as a result nonabsorbable sutures often has been recommended. To determine whether there were differences between absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures, and also to study various surgical and chemical methods to produce fixation between the testis and scrotal wall, we used rats as an experimental model of orchiopexy. Eversion of the tunica vaginalis with absorbable and nonabsorbable suture to dartos muscle produced excellent scarification. Eversion of the tunica vaginalis without suture also produced good scarification but less than above method. Absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures between tunica albuginea and tunica vaginalis produced only minor degree of inflammation. Tetracycline instillation similarly failed to produce a significant inflammation. Histopathologic changes of testis after orchiopexy were also studied. The main histopathologic changes were inflammatory reaction, interference of local blood flow and obstruction of seminiferous tubules. So it can be suggested that testicular injury after orchiopexy can be developed.
Animals ; Inflammation ; Models, Theoretical ; Orchiopexy ; Rats* ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; Sutures ; Testis* ; Tetracycline