An Analysis of Testicular Biopsy in 85 Infertile Men

Hwang, Kook Hyeong; Lee, Jeong Zoo; Park, Nam Cheol; Yoon, Jong Byung

Abstract

We analyzed testicular biopsies in eighty five infertile men with seventy eight azoospermia and seven severe oligospermia (< 1000000/ml) at our hospital from January 1989 to July 1993. The testicular volume was average 15.7ml (10 to 20ml). The most frequent histopathological finding was Sertoli cell only syndrome with 25 cases (29.4%). The second prevalent finding was sloughing and disorganization of germ cells with 22 cases (25.9%) and followed by maturation arrest with 19 cases (22.4%) and hypospermatogenesis with 19 cases (22.4%), in order. In the Sertoli cell only syndrome, sloughing and disorganization of germ cells and maturation arrest, nearly all showed azoospermia in the sperm count comparing to the hypospermatogenesis. Leydig cell abnormalities were hyperplasia in 32 cases (37.6%) and hypoplasia in 4 cases (4.7%). On the aspect of feedback, in Sertoli cell only syndrome and maturation arrest, serum FSH was increased in 21 cases (84.0%) and 7 cases (36.8%), respectively, but in the majority of sloughing and disorganization of germ cells and hypospermatogenesis, not increased. Plasma LH, prolactin, testosterone and estradiol were not correlated with germ cell morphology. Therefore, the testicular biopsy is especially important for aid in the diagnosis and prognosis in the infertile men, and further more to evaluate the testicular paracrinology.