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 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

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*

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

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*

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*

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

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

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*