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

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

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

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

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*

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*

PURPOSE: A histological study was undertaken to characterized the vanished testes in boys who had impalpable cryptorchidism and found to have nubbin remnant during last 9-years period. METHODS: Of 108 impalpable cryptorchid boys, 42(44 nubbins, 38.9%) were found to have vanished testes at exploration. RESULTS: Thirty nine(88.6%) were located on the left side and the other 5(11.4%) were on the right side. The age range was 6 months to 14 years(mean;52.2 months). All 44 nubbin remnants were excised and examined microscopically. Grossly it was characterized by several centimeters of spermatic cord with small fibrotic tissue at distal end. Microscopically fibrous tissues were identified in all 44 specimens(100%), vasa deferens in 36(81. 8%), epididymis in 19(43.2%), calcifications in 18(40.9%), hemosiderin deposits in 6(13. 6%), germ cells in 5(11.4%), seminiferous tubules in 7(15.9%), tunicae albuginea in 7(15.9%) and hyalinizations in 3(6.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The finding of scattered foci of calcifications, hemosiderin deposits and the presence of relatively normal spermatic cord and epididymis, supports the concept of in utero torsion of the testis as the etiology of vanished testis. The 11.4% incidence of viable germ cells warrants exploration and removal of remnant tissue in boys with a impalpable cryptorchidism.
Cryptorchidism ; Epididymis ; Germ Cells ; Hemosiderin ; Hyalin ; Incidence ; Male ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatic Cord ; Testis*

Testicular microlithiasis (TM) is an uncommon abnormality in which concentric laminated bodies are scattered throughout the testis within seminiferous tubules. The sonographic appearance of TM is characteristic. In a retrospective analysis of 281 testicular sonograms, TM were found in 7 cases (2.5%). The presence of TM was associated with the presence of acute epididymitis (n=3), varicocele (n =l), hydrocele (n =l), testicular tumor (n =l), and cryptorchidism (n =l). The pathogenesis of TM is still poorly understood and its clinical relevance is unclear. However, because TM may be associated with testicular tumor, we advocate careful evaluation and follow up of the testes when this abnormality is detected.
Cryptorchidism ; Epididymitis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Testis ; Ultrasonography ; Varicocele