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Mast cells in human foetal testis and epidydymis: a comparative study

Mast cell presence and distribution in the human foetal testis have not been extensively investigated. We hypothesized that the number of mast cells increases with gestational age, coinciding with increase of testicular volume, sex cords and interstitium. The aim of the study was to analyse mast cells within the foetal testis parenchyma by immunohistochemistry during the intrauterine development of the testis and epididymis. Foetal testes were obtained during routine autopsy of 39 foetuses between 15 and 36 gestational weeks. Mast cells were detected by immunohistochemistry and quantitatively analysed by stereological methods. Tissue samples were retrieved from historical paraffin blocks archive of Dept. Histology and Embryology after approval of the appropriate Ethical Committee. Mast cells were exclusively located within the tunica albuginea during GW 15-29. After GW 30 mast cells also populated loose connective tissue of the tunica vasculosa and the connective tissue of septa/interstitium within the parenchyma. The total number of mast cells increased over the investigated period. Quantitative stereological analysis showed that the development of mast cells coincided with the increase of the volume of the testis, sex cords and the interstitium, although the sex cord diameter remained unchanged. Mast cell development in the foetal testis may be regulated by paracrine factors secreted by cells in the interstitium and sex cords.

mastocyte ; foetal testis ; epidydymis

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