Naslov
Visualization of Reinke's crystals in normal and cryptorchid testis

Autori
Kozina, Viviana ; Geist, David ; Kubinova, Lucie ; Karnthaler, Hans ; Waitz, Thomas ; Janacek, Jiri ; Chernyavskiy, Oleksander ; Ježek, Davor

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

Skup
7.PhD - Symposium

Mjesto i datum
Beč, Austrija, 15.06.2011. - 16.06.2011

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Nije recenziran

Ključne riječi
testis; cryptorchidism; Reinke's crystals; confocal microscope; TEM

Sažetak
Within the human testis, Reinke's crystals are found in Leydig cells but their nature and function are poorly understood. The aim of our study was to investigate the properties of Reinke's crystals in man with the normal morphology of the testis (control group) and infertile patients diagnosed with cryptorchidism. 20 biopsies from infertile patients and 6 biopsies from men with regular spermatogenesis (20 - 30 y.) were used. Sections of the testis tissue were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and a modified Masson's method. Specimens were observed by bright field, confocal and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The number of Reinke´s crystals in investigated groups was determined applying stereological methods. In both groups, Reinke´s crystals were noted within the cytoplasm and nuclei of Leydig cells. Some "free" crystals were found within the interstitial space, outside Leydig cells. Confocal microscopy proved to be very useful in the assessment of the shape a nd 3D reconstruction of the crystal. TEM analysis confirmed a hexagonal form of the crystal while crystallographic data on sections of 70-300 nm thickness provided a better insight into the organization of the crystal lattice. Stereological analysis revealed a significant increase in the number of crystals in cryptorchid testes when compared to controls. Increased number of crystals in cryptorchid specimens leads to the assumption that the prolonged exposure to higher (abdominal) temperature might stimulate enzymes involved in the synthesis of the proteins of the crystal. However, the exact molecular nature of the crystal lattice remains in both normal and cryptorchid testis obscure.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

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