Sertoli cell nuclear changes in human testicular biopsies as revealed by three dimensional reconstruction

Abstract

Serial semithin sections of human testicular biopsy material were used for threedimensional reconstruction in order to obtain information about Sertoli cell nuclei in normal and pathologically altered seminiferous epithelia. The three dimensional reconstruction program is based on the triangulation of image point series. It includes a calculation modus for determining surfaces and an approximation formula for the estimation of volumes.Nuclei from the following specimens were reconstructed and for each the volume (v), surface (s), and a quotient (v/s), which is regarded as a marker for the degree of membrane infoldings, were calculated as follows: (1) For normal spermatogenesis (stage 1, 2, 3, 5; n = 18) v =

Evaluation of CAG repeat length of androgen receptor expressing cells in human testes showing different pictures of spermatogenic impairment

“…Since spermatogenic defects are regularly associated with Sertoli cell differentiation deficiency (Bruning et al 1993;Sharpe et al 2003;Brehm et al 2006), we examined AR expression in dependence to histological picture and CAG repeat length. Additionally, the expression of the Sertoli cell specific protein ABP was examined to evaluate the Sertoli cell function.…”

“…Testicular biopsies of many patients with oligozoospermia or non-obstructive azoospermia reveal mixed atrophy, i.e., showing seminiferous tubules with at least qualitatively preserved spermatogenesis adjacent to tubules showing different signs of spermatogenic impairment including SCO (Sigg 1979, for review see Bergmann and Kliesch 2010). Additionally, spermatogenic defects are regularly associated with the Sertoli cell differentiation deficiency (Bruning et al 1993;Sharpe et al 2003;Brehm et al 2006) and the reduced AR expression in patients showing cryptorchidism (Regadera et al 2001). Sertoli cell specific proteins like androgen binding protein (ABP) are directly correlated to AR expression (for review see Dohle et al 2003) and can therefore be used to show the efficiency of Sertoli cell function.…”