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

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological aspects of testicular tissue before and after freezing-thawing by light and transmission electron microscopy. METHODS: Tissue biopsies were carried out on mouse testis for freezing. Samples in medium containing 20% glycerol were frozen by computer-controlled freezing program. The effect of freezing-thawing on the structural change of testicular tissues were examined by light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: The freezing-thawing procedure had no significant effect on tubular diameter. However, it caused folding of the lamina propria, and notable damage to Sertoli cells, spermatogonia and spermatocytes. The cells were detached, desquamated from the basal lamina and had increased vacuolization. Round spermatids, elongated spermatids and spermatozoa were less affected, and most of them maintained their normal structure. CONCLUSIONS: The structure of spermatogonia, spermatocyte and basal compartments in seminiferous epithelium was significantly altered by freezing-thawing procedure of mouse testicular tissues. Thus, we need to develop a more reliable method for the cryopreservation of testicular tissues.
Animals ; Basement Membrane ; Biopsy ; Cryopreservation ; Freezing ; Glycerol ; Mice* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mucous Membrane ; Seminiferous Epithelium ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatids ; Spermatocytes ; Spermatogonia ; Spermatozoa ; Testis

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological aspects of testicular tissue before and after freezing-thawing by light and transmission electron microscopy. METHODS: Tissue biopsies were carried out on mouse testis for freezing. Samples in medium containing 20% glycerol were frozen by computer-controlled freezing program. The effect of freezing-thawing on the structural change of testicular tissues were examined by light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: The freezing-thawing procedure had no significant effect on tubular diameter. However, it caused folding of the lamina propria, and notable damage to Sertoli cells, spermatogonia and spermatocytes. The cells were detached, desquamated from the basal lamina and had increased vacuolization. Round spermatids, elongated spermatids and spermatozoa were less affected, and most of them maintained their normal structure. CONCLUSIONS: The structure of spermatogonia, spermatocyte and basal compartments in seminiferous epithelium was significantly altered by freezing-thawing procedure of mouse testicular tissues. Thus, we need to develop a more reliable method for the cryopreservation of testicular tissues.
Animals ; Basement Membrane ; Biopsy ; Cryopreservation ; Freezing ; Glycerol ; Mice* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mucous Membrane ; Seminiferous Epithelium ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatids ; Spermatocytes ; Spermatogonia ; Spermatozoa ; Testis

Cimetidine is an H2 receptor antagonist that has an antiandrogenic effect. It intervenes with the conversion of testosterone into estrogen in the Sertoli cells with accompanying testicular structural changes. In the present study, the microscopic and the ultrastructural changes induced by cimetidine and the effect of vitamin B12 as a protective agent on rat testes were studied. Immunoexpression of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) in testes was evaluated. Twenty-four adult male rats were divided into four groups: control, cimetidine-treated, vitamin B12 treated, and combined cimetidine and vitamin B12 treated. The experimental rats were administered with cimetidine and/or vitamin B12 for 52 days. Group II rats showed marked atrophy of the seminiferous tubules with a significant increase in tubular diameter and decrease in the tubular luminal and epithelial areas. Ultrastructure of this group showed irregular Sertoli cells with basal cytoplasmic vacuolation and significantly thickened basement membrane. ERβ immunoexpression was similar to controls. Group III rats showed near normal seminiferous tubular structures with minimal cellular alterations and the immunoreactivity of the testicular sections was very close to normal. However, group IV rats showed markedly immunopositive detached cells, spermatids, and primary spermatocytes. Cimetidine interferes with the control of spermatogenesis as evidenced by microscopic and ultrastructural studies and affection of ERβ receptors and vitamin B12 has a protective action against this harmful effect.
Adult ; Animals ; Basement Membrane ; Cimetidine ; Cytoplasm ; Estrogens ; Humans ; Male ; Phenobarbital ; Rats* ; Seminiferous Epithelium* ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatids ; Spermatocytes ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis ; Testosterone ; Vitamin B 12* ; Vitamins*

This study aimed to evaluate the ability of rete testis thickness (RTT) and testicular shear wave elastography (SWE) to differentiate obstructive azoospermia (OA) from nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). We assessed 290 testes of 145 infertile males with azoospermia and 94 testes of 47 healthy volunteers at Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai, China) between August 2019 and October 2021. The testicular volume (TV), SWE, and RTT were compared among patients with OA and NOA and healthy controls. The diagnostic performances of the three variables were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve. The TV, SWE, and RTT in OA differed significantly from those in NOA (all P ≤ 0.001) but were similar to those in healthy controls. Males with OA and NOA were similar at TVs of 9-11 cm 3 ( P = 0.838), with sensitivity, specificity, Youden index, and area under the curve of 50.0%, 84.2%, 0.34, and 0.662 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.502-0.799), respectively, for SWE cut-off of 3.1 kPa; and 94.1%, 79.2%, 0.74, and 0.904 (95% CI: 0.811-0.996), respectively, for RTT cut-off of 1.6 mm. The results showed that RTT performed significantly better than SWE in differentiating OA from NOA in the TV overlap range. In conclusion, ultrasonographic RTT evaluation proved a promising diagnostic approach to differentiate OA from NOA, particularly in the TV overlap range.
Male ; Humans ; Azoospermia ; Rete Testis ; China ; Testis

PURPOSE: To verify the regulation of transepithelial resistance (TER) of Sertoli cells by Leydig cells in mouse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary culture of Sertoli cells was established on cell culture plate insert and monolayer culture was subjected to coculture in the Leydig cell culture. Changes in TER was monitored for 48 h using the conductivity meter equipped with two electrodes system. RESULTS: TER gradually increased according to the development of monolayer of Sertoli cells on the cell culture plate insert. Net changes in TER of Sertoli cells culture was significantly higher under the Leydig cells coculture compared to control after 48 h of coculture. CONCLUSIONS: It is the first report about the increase in TER of Sertoli cells by Leydig cells in vitro. Paracrine interaction between Leydig cells and Sertoli cells might be involved in the development of functional blood testis barrier which is made by tight junctions between Sertoli cells in mouse testis.
Animals ; Blood-Testis Barrier ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Coculture Techniques* ; Electrodes ; Leydig Cells* ; Male ; Mice* ; Sertoli Cells* ; Testis ; Tight Junctions

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*

Primary adenocarcinoma of the rete testis is a rare malignant testicular tumor with a poor prognosis. Here we report the case of a 54-year-old man with right hydronephrosis that was detected before the diagnosis of the primary testicular lesion. During the evaluation of the right hydronephrosis by use of abdominopelvic computed tomography, a painless, hard, solid lesion was found on the right testis. The patient underwent radical orchiectomy, and the pathologic examination revealed an adenocarcinoma of the rete testis. Multiple metastases were present at the time of diagnosis. The patient received combined chemotherapy after the surgery but lived only 8 months after the initial diagnosis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Orchiectomy ; Prognosis ; Rete Testis ; Testis

Primary adenocarcinoma of the rete testis is a rare malignant testicular tumor with a poor prognosis. Here we report the case of a 54-year-old man with right hydronephrosis that was detected before the diagnosis of the primary testicular lesion. During the evaluation of the right hydronephrosis by use of abdominopelvic computed tomography, a painless, hard, solid lesion was found on the right testis. The patient underwent radical orchiectomy, and the pathologic examination revealed an adenocarcinoma of the rete testis. Multiple metastases were present at the time of diagnosis. The patient received combined chemotherapy after the surgery but lived only 8 months after the initial diagnosis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Orchiectomy ; Prognosis ; Rete Testis ; Testis

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have been suggested as a potential choice for treatment of male infertility. Yet, the effects of MSCs on regeneration of germinal epithelium of seminiferous tubules and recovery of spermatogenesis have remained controversial. In this research, we have evaluated and compared the fate of autologous bone marrow (BM)-MSCs during three different periods of time- 4, 6 and 8 weeks after transplantation into the testes of busulfan-induced infertile male rats. METHODS: Rats BM samples were collected from tibia bone under anesthesia. The samples were directly cultured in culture medium. Isolated, characterized and purified BM-MSCs were labeled with PKH26, and transplanted into the testes of infertile rats. After 4, 6 and 8 weeks, the testes were removed and underwent histological evaluations. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis showed that transplanted BM-MSCs survived in all three groups. Some of the cells homed at the germinal epithelium and expressed spermatogonia markers (Dazl and Stella). The number of homed spermatogonia-like cells in 4-week testes, was more than the 6-week testes. The 8-week testes had the least numbers of homed cells (p<0.05). Immunostaining for vimentin showed that BM-MSCs did not differentiate into the sertoli cells in the testes. CONCLUSIONS: From our results, it could be concluded that, autologous BM-MSCs could survive in the testis, migrate onto the seminiferous tubules basement membrane and differentiate into spermatogonia. Although, no more differentiation was observed in the produced spermatogonia, generation of such endogenous GCs would be a really promising achievement for treatment of male infertility using autologous stem cells.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Basement Membrane ; Bone Marrow* ; Epithelium ; Germ Cells* ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Male* ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Rats* ; Regeneration ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatogonia ; Stem Cells ; Testis* ; Tibia ; Transplantation ; Vimentin