ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of unilateral cryptorchidism on the levels of serum anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B in children.

METHODSWe enrolled 65 patients with unilateral cryptorchidism and 45 healthy children in this study. We measured the length and circumference of the penis, the testis volume in the cryptorchidism side, and the levels of serum AMH and inhibin B at the age of 6 and 12 months, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy controls, the patients with unilateral cryptorchidism showed significant decreases at 12 months in serum AMH (［108.06±12.40］ vs ［103.26±17.57］ ng/ml, P<0.05) and inhibin B (［77.43±5.66］ vs ［70.21±5.69］ pg/ml, P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in the length and circumference of the penis and the testis volume in the cryptorchidism side at 6 and 12 months (P>0.05), or in the levels of serum AMH and inhibin B at 6 months (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSUnilateral cryptorchidism affects the gonadal function of the patient, and orchiopexy should be timely performed in order to reduce its impact.

Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Cryptorchidism ; blood ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Inhibins ; blood ; Male ; Orchiopexy ; Organ Size ; Penis ; pathology ; Testis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

PURPOSE: To evaluate the predictive role of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet count (PLT) in the diagnosis of testicular torsion (TT) and testicular viability following TT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed two study groups in this retrospective study: 75 patients with a diagnosis of TT (group 1) and 56 age-matched healthy subjects (group 2). We performed a complete blood count as a part of the diagnostic procedure, and NLR, PLR, MPV, and PLT values were recorded. We compared the patient and control groups in terms of these parameters. Then, TT patients were divided into two subgroups according to the time elapsed since the onset of symptoms. Subsequently, we evaluated the relationship between the duration of symptoms and these parameters. RESULTS: There were significant differences between groups 1 and 2 in NLR, PLR, and PLT (p<0.001 for all). There was no predictive role of MPV in the diagnosis of TT (p=0.328). We determined significantly high sensitivity and specificity levels for NLR in the prediction of TT diagnosis (84% and 92%, respectively). Furthermore, NLR was significantly related to the duration of symptoms in TT patients (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: NLR may be a useful parameter in the diagnosis of TT. Furthermore, NLR may be used as a predictive factor for testicular viability following TT.
Adolescent ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count/*methods ; Male ; Neutrophils/*pathology ; Platelet Count/methods ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; *Spermatic Cord Torsion/blood/diagnosis/physiopathology ; Symptom Assessment/methods ; *Testis/pathology/physiopathology ; Tissue Survival ; Turkey

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of the testis volume and reproductive hormone level with the results of testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) in non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients, and to explore the cut-off value of the testis volume and reproductive hormone level in predicting the results of TESA so as to provide reliable information for the diagnosis and treatment of NOA.

METHODSWe enlisted 121 NOA patients in this study, divided them into a sperm group and a non-sperm group based on the results of TESA, and measured their testis volumes and reproductive hormone levels.

RESULTSThe left testis volume, the right testis volume, and the levels of prolactin (PRL), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), estradiol (E2) and total testosterone (T) in the non-sperm and sperm groups were (7.07 +/- 1.06) ml vs (11.75 +/- 1.38) ml, (7.37 +/- 1.37) ml vs (11.70 +/- 1.98) ml, (12.43 +/- 11.69) ng/ml vs (9.60 +/- 4.55) ng/ml, (15.77 +/- 10.84) mIU/ml vs (8.01 +/- 7.43) mIU/ml, (6.12 +/- 2.92) mIU/ml vs (8.11 +/- 20.11) mIU/ml, (119.36 +/- 43.52) pmol/L vs (141.12 +/- 48.33) pmol/L, and (11.43 +/- 4.05) nmol/L vs (12.46 +/- 4.60) nmol/L, respectively. The mean levels of serum FSH and PRL were significantly higher in the non-sperm than in the sperm group. Although the mean testis volume of the former was less than that of the latter, there were no significant differences between the two groups, and nor were any significant differences in age and the levels of E2 and T. The cut-off value of the testis volume was 9 ml, with sensitivity of 93.8%/89.6% (left/right) and specificity of 100%/94.3% (left/right). The area under curve (AUC) of the left testis volume was 0.984 and that of the right was 0.961, indicating a high diagnostic accuracy. The cut-off value of the serum FSH level was 8.18 mIU/ml, with a sensitivity of 71.2% and a specificity of 75.0%. The AUC of the FSH level was 0.743, suggestive of a moderate diagnostic accuracy.

CONCLUSIONThe testis volume and FSH level are important for predicting the TESA results of NOA patients, and the former has even a higher diagnostic accuracy than the latter.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; analysis ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; analysis ; Male ; Organ Size ; Sperm Retrieval ; Testis ; anatomy & histology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of varicocele on the volume discrepancy of bilateral testes, and the relationship between testicular volume discrepancy and semen parameters.

METHODSThis study included 181 varicocele patients and 102 normal fertile men without varicocele. We retrospectively analyzed their clinical data, including the grades and locations of varicocele, testis volume and semen parameters.

RESULTSBilateral testicular volume discrepancy was found in 132 (72.9%) of the varicocele patients (including 117 cases of left testicular hypotrophy [88.6%]), and 35 (34.3%) of the non-varicocele fertile men. The rates of bilateral testicular volume discrepancy were 61.3%, 3.5%, 20.9% and 14.3% in the grade-III, grade-II, grade-I and non-varicocele groups, respectively (P < 0.05), with statistically significant differences among different age groups (P < 0.05). The percentage of morphologically normal sperm and sperm motility were reduced differently with different degrees of testicular volume discrepancy (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONTesticular volume discrepancy is more common in men with left varicocele, and its prevalence and degree are correlated with the grade of varicocele. Semen quality decreases with the increase of testicular volume discrepancy.

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Organ Size ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Testis ; pathology ; Varicocele ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

The changes of blood perfusion of contralateral testis after unilateral testicular torsion remain controversial. In this study, 28 New Zealand white male rabbits were randomly divided into five groups. Group A (n = 8), the control group, underwent a sham operation on the unilateral testis without inducing testicular torsion. In groups B, C, and D (n = 5 each), unilateral testicular torsion was induced, and, after 3, 6 or 24 h, respectively, detorsion was performed. In group E (n = 5), permanent unilateral testicular torsion was applied. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound was used to observe the blood perfusion of the contralateral testis at the following stages: pre-torsion (preopration), immediately post-torsion (postopration), pre-detorsion, immediately post-detorsion, and late-stage post-detorsion (6-12 h post-detorsion in groups B-D) or at a similar time point (15-21 h post-torsion in group E). Time-intensity curves were generated, and the following parameters were derived and analyzed: arrival time, time to peak intensity, peak intensity, and half-time of the descending peak intensity. The analysis revealed that blood perfusion of the contralateral testis increased immediately after testicular torsion on the opposite side (P < 0.05), which increased with prolonged testicular torsion of the other testis. This research demonstrated that contrast-enhanced ultrasound was valuable in evaluating blood perfusion of the contralateral testis after unilateral testicular torsion.
Animals ; Contrast Media ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Rabbits ; Regional Blood Flow ; physiology ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Testis ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the testicular blood flow in patients with testicular microlithiasis (TM) and its correlation with the seminal profile in infertile men.

METHODSWe selected 88 infertile men and examined them by testicular color Doppler and routine seminal tests.

RESULTSTesticular microlithiasis was found in 19 (19.3%) of the patients, classic testicular microlithiasis (CTM) in 7 (8.0%), and limited testicular microlithiasis (LTM) in 10 (11.3%). No significant differences were observed in the age of onset, bilateral testicular volume, resistance index (RI) of bilateral testicular arteries, semen amount and the rate of teratospermia. The bilateral testicular peak systolic velocity (PSV), sperm count and sperm motility were significantly lower in the CTM than in the LTM group (P < 0.05), but showed no statistically significant difference between the LTM and the non-calcification group.

CONCLUSIONTM may be one of the causes of poor sperm function in infertile men.

Adult ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Calcinosis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; complications ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Regional Blood Flow ; Semen ; cytology ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Testicular Diseases ; complications ; physiopathology ; Testis ; blood supply ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of high power microwave (HPM) radiation on the structure and function of blood-testis barrier (BTB) in rats.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-six male Wistar rats were treated by heart perfusion of lanthanum-glutaraldehyde solution and tail vein injection of evans blue (EB) at 6 h, 1, 3, 7 and 14 d after exposed to 0, 10, 30 and 100 mW/cm2 HPM radiation for 5 minutes, the structural change of BTB and distribution of lanthanum or EB observed through the light microscope, electron microscope and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM).

RESULTSTesticular interstitial edema, vascular congestion or hyperemia with accumulation of plasma proteins and red blood cells in the inner compartment of seminiferous tubules were observed after exposure to HPM. The above-mentioned pathological changes were aggravated at 1-7 d and relieved at 14 d after radiation, obviously more severe in the 30 and 100 mW/cm2 exposure groups than in the 10 mW/cm2. Both lanthanum precipitation and EB were deposited in the inner compartment.

CONCLUSIONHPM radiation may damage the structure and increase the permeability of BTB.

Animals ; Blood-Testis Barrier ; pathology ; physiopathology ; radiation effects ; Male ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of acute Toxoplasma gondii infection on the reproductive function of male mice.

METHODSTwenty-six adult male mice were randomized into an infection and a control group of equal number. Acute Toxoplasma gondii infection was induced in the testes of the former, while abdominal injection of normal saline given to the latter. Cell imprints and pathological sections were obtained to observe the pathological changes and Toxoplasma gondii invasion in the spermatogenic cells and to compare the testicular LDH-X, sperm concentration and motility and the number of deformed spermatozoa between the two groups.

RESULTSThe testicular LDH-X, sperm concentration and motility and the number of deformed spermatozoa were 53.19 +/- 18.04, (15.01 +/- 2.42) x 10(6)/ ml, (8.26 +/- 2.57) % and (17.69 +/- 11.91) % in the infection group, as compared with 68.71 +/- 17.79, (23.87 +/- 6.66) x 10(6)/ ml, (13.21 +/- 2.82) % and (11.30 +/- 6.60) % in the control, with significant differences between the two groups (P < 0 05).

CONCLUSIONAcute Toxoplasma gondii infection affects the reproductive function of male mice.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Isoenzymes ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Random Allocation ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; physiology ; Testis ; metabolism ; parasitology ; pathology ; Toxoplasmosis ; metabolism ; physiopathology

AIMTo evaluate the relationship between testicular function and testicular volume measured by using Prader orchidometry and ultrasonography (US) to determine the critical testicular volume indicating normal testicular function by each method.

METHODSTotal testicular volume (right plus left testicular volume) was measured in 794 testes in 397 men with infertility (mean age, 35.6 years) using a Prader orchidometer and also by ultrasonography. Ultrasonographic testicular volumes were calculated as length X width X height X 0.71. To evaluate volume-function relationships, patients were divided into 10 groups representing 5-mL increments of total testicular volume by each method from below 10 mL to 50 mL or more.

RESULTSMean total testicular volume based on Prader orchidometry and US were 36.8 mL and 26.3 mL, respectively. Semen volume, sperm density, total sperm count, total motile sperm count, and serum FSH, LH, and testosterone all correlated significantly with total testicular volume measured by either method. Mean sperm density was in the oligozoospermic range in patients with total testicular volume below 35 mL by orchidometry or below 20 mL by ultrasonography. Mean total sperm count was subnormal in patients with total testicular volume below 30 mL by orchidometry or under 20 mL by ultrasonography.

CONCLUSIONTesticular volume measured by either ultrasonography or Prader orchidometry correlated significantly with testicular function. However, critical total testicular volume indicating normal or nearly normal testicular function was 30 mL to 35 mL using Prader orchidometer and 20 mL using ultrasonography. Prader orchidometry morphometrically and functionally overestimated the testicular volume in comparison to US.

Adult ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; diagnostic imaging ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Organ Size ; Semen ; Sperm Motility ; Testis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Testosterone ; blood ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of diet-induced obesity on the developmental process of testes in pubertal rats.

METHODSEighty 21-day-old male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=32) and an experiment group (n=48), and fed respectively on a normal diet and a high-fat diet. And changes in the body weight, Lee's index, testis weight and epididymis weight were measured at the end of the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th week after the treatment, that is, when the rats were 6, 7, 8 and 9 weeks old. The concentrations of testosterone and estradiol were determined by Access immunoassay system and the morphological alterations in testis development observed by HE staining.

RESULTSThe body weight of the high-fat group obviously increased at the end of the 3rd week (P < 0.05), 26.6% heavier than that of the control by the end of the 6th week (P < 0.01), and Lee's index was also obviously increased (P < 0.01). Compared with the controls, the testicular coefficient declined in the high-fat group at the end of the 5th and 6th week (P < 0.05), plasma TG and TC remarkably increased, the testosterone level obviously decreased (P < 0.05), estradiol concentration lowered at the end of the 3rd, 4th and 5th week but dramatically increased at the 9th, with significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). Microscope examination showed that spermatogenic epithelial cells were arranged in disorder, the spermatogenic cell layers reduced and the number of mature sperms reduced.

CONCLUSIONHigh-fat diet can induce nutritional obesity in pubertal rats, which in turn may lead to the underdevelopment of the testis and the abnormal level of gonadal hormones.

Animals ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Weight ; Diet Fads ; Epididymis ; growth & development ; pathology ; Male ; Obesity ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis ; growth & development ; pathology