engleski

Mast cells in testicular biopsies of infertile men with "mixed atrophy" of seminiferous tubules

Mast cells in bilateral testicular biopsies of thirty patients with a "mixed atrophy" of seminiferous tubules were analysed. Seven biopsies from vasectomy patients served as controls. Regarding their characteristic location within testicular tissue, two groups of mast cells could be distinguished, both in control and infertile patients: "interstitial" mast cells (located between Leydig and other interstitial cells as well as in the vicinity of blood vessels) and "peritubular" mast cells (located in the close proximity of the tubular lamina propria or incorporated in the lamina propria itself). Morphometric data indicated a significant increase in number and volume of mast cells in infertile patients when compared to controls. Although the both cell groups (i.e. "interstitial" and "peritubular" mast cells) in the analysed biopsies of infertile patients increased significantly in their number and volume, it appeared that "peritubular" mast cells increased with a higher rate than "interstitial" mast cells. A significant negative correlation was found between the following variables: volume and number of mast cells, testis volume and the status of spermatogenesis evaluated by Johnsen's scoring. It is concluded that the increased presence of mast cells is closely associated with an impairment of spermatogenesis.

biopsy; mast cells; testis; male infertility

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