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

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*

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

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*

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 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

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