Testis Biopsy in lnfertile Men with Azoospermia

Lee, Hack Young; Wang, Chong Soon

Abstract

Investigations into the pathogenesis of male infertility have relied predominantly on two types of analysis: histological evaluations of testicular biopsies and assays of these hormones thought to be responsible for the regulation of spermatogenesis. Other types of analysis such as chromosomal studies and biochemical determinations of ejaculate components have also played a role in characterizing male infertility. Testis biopsy findings of 54 cases with azoospermia were observed in aspect of testicular size and pastory and seminovesiculograms were performed in 3 cases with normal testis and 1 case with peritubular fibrosis and reduced spermatogenesis. The following results were obtained. 1) Among the 42 cases with normal sized testis, 12 cases (28.6%) of normal testis, 10 cases (23.8%) of peritubular fibrosis with reduced spermatogenesis, 11 cases (26. 2%) of reduced spermatogenesis, 1 case(2.4%) of maturation arrest at spermatid level, 6 cases (14.3%) of Sertoli cell only syndrome and 2cases (4.7%) of hyalinized tubule with Leydig cell hyperplasia were observed. 2) Among the 12 cases with small sized testis, 1 case (8.3%) of normal testis, 1 case (8.3%) of peritubular fibrosis with reduced spermatogenesis, 2 cases(16.7%) of reduced spermatogenesis, 5 cases(41.7%) of Sertoli cell only syndrome and 3 cases (25.O%) of hyalinized tubule with Leydig cell hyperplasia were observed. 3) Normal testis was observed in 4 of 9 cases with tuberculous epididymitis and 1 case with surgically corrected bilateral hydrocele on their past history. Peritubular fibrosis with reduced spermatogenesis was observed in 3 of 9 cases with urethritis, 2of3 cases with tuberculous epididymitis and 1 case with surgically corracted bilateral varicocele on their past history. 4) The observed in 3 cases of normal testis and 1 carmel testis and 1 case of peritubular fibrosis with reduced spermatogenesis on the seminovesiculogram.