Gap junctions (GJ), as a special membrane structure between adjacent cells, are composed of connexins (Cx) and regulate the proliferation and differentiation of cells. Studies show that gap junctional intercellular communication is weakened or lost in most tumor cells and this abnormality is often accompanied by changed expression of Cxs. Cx43 is a major connexin in the testis tissue. This review focuses on the latest progress in the studies of Cx43 in testicular tumors.
Animals ; Cell Communication ; Cell Differentiation ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Gap Junctions ; metabolism ; Male ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism

Primary testicular carcinoid tumor, occupying 0.23% of testicular neoplasm, is a rare and indolent neoplasm with the potential for distant metastasis. We present two cases of primary pure carcinoid tumor of the testis. Both patients were 36 years old. Physical examination revealed testicular mass with and without tenderness. The preoperative serum levels of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and alpha-fetoprotein were normal and neither patient had carcinoid syndrome. The tumors measured 7.5x6x4 cm and 5.5x5x4 cm in size. Histologically, immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally, the tumors showed typical features of the carcinoid tumor. Case 1 showed extensive tumor necrosis and vascular invasion. DNA flow cytometric analysis showed aneuploidy with DNA index of 1.47 and S+G2M of 14.0% in case 1 and tetraploidy with DNA index of 1.96 and S+G2M of 22.1% in case 2. Both patients have been well without any signs of metastasis after operation for 24 months in case 1 and for 16 months in case 2.
Adult ; Carcinoid Tumor/pathology ; Carcinoid Tumor/metabolism ; Carcinoid Tumor/genetics* ; Case Report ; DNA, Neoplasm/analysis* ; Flow Cytometry/methods* ; Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Testicular Neoplasms/pathology ; Testicular Neoplasms/metabolism ; Testicular Neoplasms/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of connexin43 (Cx43) protein on autophagy in cisplatin (DDP)-resistant testicular cancer I-10 cells. METHODS: The expression of Cx43 proteins in testicular cancer I-10 cells and I-10/DDP cells were detected with Western blotting. I-10/DDP cells were transfected with a full- length mouse Cx43 vector (mCx43) Lipofectamine, the empty vector or Lipofectamine (blank control group), and the changes in the expressions of LC3 and p62 proteins were determined with Western blotting. mCherry-GFP-LC3B transfection and transmission electron microscopy were used to analyze the changes in autophagy of the cells with Cx43 overexpression. RESULTS: Cx43 was significantly decreased in I-10/DDP cells compared with I-10 cells ( < 0.01). Transfection of the I-10/DDP cells with mCx43 vector resulted in significantly increased Cx43 expression in the cells ( < 0.01) and caused significantly decreased expression of LC3-Ⅱ ( < 0.01) and increased expression of p62 ( < 0.05) as compared with the negative control cells. Both transmission electron microscopy and mCherry-GFP-LC3B transfection showed that the number of autophagosomes was obviously reduced in mCx43-transfected cells as compared with the negative control cells. CONCLUSIONS Cx43 inhibits autophagy in cisplatin-resistant testicular cancer I-10 /DDP cells.
Animals ; Autophagy ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cisplatin ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Male ; Mice ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

Adult ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Inhibins ; metabolism ; Leydig Cell Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of telomerase transcriptional elements-interacting factor (TEIF) in human testis under different status and its relation with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression.

METHODSSpecific antisera against TEIF were generated by immunization of rabbits with purified recombinated partial TEIF. Samples were assigned to three groups according to their pathological types, including 16 normal testes, 8 atrophic testes, and 6 testicular seminomas. They were subjected to immunohistochemical staining of TEIF and hTERT. Results from both TEIF and hTERT were analyzed semi-quantitatively and compared.

RESULTSThe expressions of TEIF and hTERT were detected in all samples of normal, atrophic testes, and seminomas. No differences of TEIF expressions among these three groups were observed (P > 0.05). On the contrary, the expressions of hTERT were significantly lower in atrophic testes compared with those of normal testes and seminomas (both P < 0.05). Nevertheless, co-expressions of TEIF with hTERT were revealed to be in normal and malignant cases (P < 0.05) but not in atrophic testes, which generally presented TEIF expression. The cellular distributions of both proteins were similar and mainly in spermatocytes and some Sertoli cells, while were all negative in the interstitial cells and other stromal cells. Conclusions The uniform expressions of TEIF in all these specimens suggest that it may be a marker of testis and its related diseases. The strong expression of hTERT in normal testes and testicular seminomas comparing with the low expression in atrophic testes may suggest a role for telomerase in maintaining proliferation of germ cells.

Atrophy ; Biomarkers ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Seminoma ; metabolism ; Telomerase ; metabolism ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Testis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism

Calcinosis ; pathology ; Child ; Humans ; Inhibins ; metabolism ; Male ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Sertoli Cell Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of CT scan in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of testicular space-occupying lesions.

METHODSIn patients with testicular space-occupying lesions, 11 underwent examinations for such tumor markers as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Plain CT scans were performed with a section thickness and interval of 2 mm followed by enhanced scans after intravenous bolus injection of 70 ml 60% ultravist. Spiral CT multiplanar reconstruction images were also obtained.

RESULTSOf the 13 patients, histopathologically confirmed seminoma was found in 3, endodermal sinus tumor in 1, teratoma in 2, mixed germinoma in 2, leucoma in 1 case, abscess in 2, and tuberculosis in 2. One seminoma patient had slightly elevated AFP level while 5 of the 6 noneminoma patients (83%) had elevated AFP level. CT scans displayed characteristic features for diagnosis of testicular space-occupying lesions. Spiral CT with multiplanar reconstruction allowed full view of the lesions and demonstrated their relationship with the surrounding structures.

CONCLUSIONCT scan in combination with the clinical analysis and tumor marker examinations can be of important value in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of testicular space-occupying lesions. The application of spiral CT multiplanar reconstruction also helps in the diagnosis.

Adult ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; analysis ; Histocytochemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Reproducibility of Results ; Seminoma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Testicular Diseases ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Testicular Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Testis ; chemistry ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

Carcinoid Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Chromogranin A ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orchiectomy ; Teratoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Sarcoma, Alveolar Soft Part ; metabolism ; pathology ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Testis ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics of yolk sac tumor of the testis with concomitant testicular hydrocele in children and the association between the two conditions in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 7 cases of stage-I yolk sac tumor of the testis with concomitant testicular hydrocele. The patients ranged in age from 6 to 14 (mean 11) months. As treatment, we performed radical high spermatic cord orchiectomy after diagnosis established on intraoperative frozen sections, and conducted follow-up visits by medical examination, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) detection, chest X-ray, ultrasonography and CT for 3-41 (mean 17) months, every month in the first year, every 3 months in the second year and every 6 months in the third year after surgery.

RESULTSPostoperative pathology confirmed yolk sac tumor in all the cases, with negative incisal margin. The level of serum AFP were decreased to normal in 6 cases within 1 month after surgery, all diagnosed as at stage I, and cured without chemotherapy. The other 1 case, with the serum AFP level of 116 microg/L at 1 month after operation, was diagnosed as at stage II and received PVC chemotherapy, but lost to follow-up at 3 months post-operatively.

CONCLUSIONYolk sac tumor of the testis with concomitant testicular hydrocele is easily misdiagnosed in children. Ultrasonography is necessitated as routine examination in its diagnosis. Radical high spermatic cord orchiectomy can be performed for patients in stage I, and chemotherapy should follow for those in stage II. Its prognosis is similar to that of other yolk sac tumors. Hitherto, there has been no evidence for a definitive correlation between yolk sac tumor of the testis and hydrocele in children.

Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Spermatic Cord ; surgery ; Testicular Hydrocele ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Testicular Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Testis ; pathology ; Ultrasonography ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism