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*

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

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*

A study was made on the two cases of Klinefelter's Syndrome with review of literatures Two cases revealed findings characteristic of Klinefelter's Syndrome suck as small testes, hyalinization of seminiferous tubules. azoospermia, increased urinary gonadotropin, decreased urinary 17-ketosteroid, positive sex chromatin, gynecomastia and impotence.
Azoospermia ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Gonadotropins ; Gynecomastia ; Hyalin ; Klinefelter Syndrome* ; Male ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sex Chromatin ; Testis

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*

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

PURPOSE: Recovery of the testicular spermatozoa in non-obstructive azoospermic patients after intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) is a recent advance in the treatment of male infertility. In this study we compared sperm retrieval using microsurgical testicular sperm extraction(TESE) with retrieval by conventional TESE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 450 men with non-obstructive azoospermia were included in the study. 277 of these 450 men underwent conventional TESE(Group 1), and the other 173 patients underwent microsurgical TESE(Group 2). Microsurgical TESE was performed by making multiple incisions in the tunica albuginea under surgical microscopy, with avoiding the underlying testicular artery. The seminiferous tubules that appeared dilated and opaque were harvested. The cases were categorized into three groups, that is, the germ cell aplasia group, the maturation arrest group and the hypospermatogenesis group. The sperm retrieval rates for the patients in the three histopathological categories were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The sperm retrieval rate by conventional TESE was 30.7% and it was 31.4% by microsurgical TESE(p=0.938). For the cases of histologically diagnosed germ cell aplasia the retrieval rate was 11.6% and 21.2%, respectively, for group 1 and group 2(p=0.026). For the cases of maturation arrest the retrieval rate was 24.4% and 26.0%, respectively, for group 1 and group 2(p=0.884). For the cases of hypospermatogenesis the retrieval rate was 83.0% and 91.3%, respectively, for group 1 and group 2(p=0.339). CONCLUSIONS: For non-obstructive patients, and especially those with germ cell aplasia, microsurgical TESE can effectively retrieve spermatozoa and minimize the risk of complication.
Arteries ; Azoospermia ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Microscopy ; Oligospermia ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sperm Retrieval ; Spermatozoa

Testicular biopsy has been known as useful diagnostic tool for the male infertility. Open biopsy and percutaneous needle biopsy have been widely used. Recently. Biopty gun method has been applied in the testicular biopsy. These three different biopsy methods were performed in rats to compare the diagnostic accuracy and effects on spermatogenesis. Diagnostic accuracy was not compromised owing to different biopsy methods but the seminiferous tubules obtained by testicular biopsy were most abundant in the open biopsy and sparse in the Biopty gun biopsy. Using the spermatogenesis index, such as sperm head count and repopulation index, all biopsy techniques were not harmful to spermatogenesis. These results demonstrate that needle biopsy of the testis with Biopty gun system is rapid, effective an8 safe way to obtain a testicular biopsy.
Animals ; Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Needles* ; Rats* ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sperm Head ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis*