Naslov
REINKE’ S CRYSTALS IN INFERTILE PATIENTS

Autori
Ježek, D ; , Geist, D ; Banek, Lj ; Jurić Lekić, Gordana ; Karnthaler, HP ; Waitz, T ; Foretić, B Kristina Šemanjski1

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Acta Clin. Croat. 2007 ; 46 (Suppl.2): 36 / Krušlin, B - Zagreb : Klinički bolnički centar Sestre milosrdnice, 2007, 36-36

Skup
18th Ljudevit Jurak Symposium on Comparative Pathology

Mjesto i datum
Zagreb, Hrvatska, 01.06.2007. - 02.06.2007

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Reinke's crystals; male infertility; transmission electron microscopy

Sažetak
Introduction & aim. Reinke's crystals are normal constituents of human Leydig cells. The nature and function of these crystals is poorly understood. They can be found in the testis of some primates and the New Zealand white rabbit. However, it should be pointed out that no Reinke's crystals in other species (i.e. rodents etc.) have been detected. The crystals resemble hexagonal prisms of variable size (mostly 2-3 μ m). They are composed of parallel 10nm filaments and do not have a unit membrane. Sometimes a single crystal could be found in the cytoplasm and/or the nucleus of Leydig cells. There is a lack of data on number, architecture and composition of Reinke’ s crystals, especially in infertile patients. The aim of our study was to analyse Reinke’ s crystals in patients with normal spermatogenesis and in the biopsies of patients with cryptorchidism and non-obstructive azoospermia. Materials and methods. Paraffin blocks have been retrieved from the archive of testicular biopsies (Dept. Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb). 12 biopsies with a preserved testicular architecture and spermatogenesis served as controls. The infertile group consisted of 37 paraffin blocks originating form cryptorchid patients and 96 paraffin blocks of testicular biopsies obtained from patients with non-obstructive azoospermia. All tissue samples were fixed in the Gendre fixative. Paraffin blocks were sectioned in serial sections, 4μ m thick. The sections were placed onto slides and stained according to a modified Masson’ s method. After staining, the slides were observed by a binocular microscope (Nikon Ecllipse 200). Results. In control samples, a regular architecture of the testis tissue including full spermatogeneis could be observed. Within Leydig cells, a moderate presence of Reinke’ s crystals could be seen. The vast majority of the crystals were located within the cytoplasm of Leydig cells. However, the crystals (a much smaller form) could be observed in the nucleus of these cells. In the cases of non-obstructive azoospermia, most of the cases presented a “ mixed atrophy” of seminiferous tubules. In these samples, it seemed that the number of Reinke’ s crystals was somehow reduced. Cryptorchid testes displayed (in the vast majority of cases) a histological picture of “ Sertoli cells only syndrome” . Interestingly, in these samples, an abundant presence of Reinke’ s crystals could be found. Conclusion. It seems that, most probably due to the different aetiology, cyrptorchidism and non-obstructive azoospermia act differently on Reinke’ s crystals.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Temeljne medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA