Abstract
Quantify the distribution of collagen and analyze the seminiferous tubules diameter in the testis of patients with cryptorchidism, to verify if the previous use of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) affects these structures. Samples of parenchymal tissue of cryptorchid testis obtained during peroperative biopsies were collected from 26 patients. Sixteen samples were embedded in paraffin and stained with picrosirius red to evidence fibers of collagen system. The quantification of these fibers was determined by stereological methods, using a test system M-42. To obtain seminiferous tubules diameter we used 10 of the 26 samples. These samples were embedded in Epon and the analyses were carried out in semi-thin sections, stained with toluidin blue. The selected results of each group were statistically analyzed and compared by the student's t and Tukey-Kramer's tests. The testicular interstitium and lamina propria of patients treated with hCG showed statistically significant less collagen system fibers, when compared to the testes of patients nontreated (0.30% versus 0.39%, p = 0.0079). The seminiferous tubules diameters were not statistically significant different between the testes of patients treated and nontreated with hCG (67.5 versus 59.35 microm, p = 0.0609). hCG use in the cryptorchidism could delay, at least temporarily, a progressive growth of fibers of collagen system. We did not find statistically significant difference in the seminiferous tubular diameters between treated and nontreated patients.
Highlights
Cryptorchidism is the most frequent anomaly caused by a flaw in testicular migration
The testicular interstitium and lamina propria of patients treated with human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) showed statistically significant less collagen system fibers, when compared to the testes of patients nontreated (0.30% versus 0.39%, p = 0.0079)
We analyzed 26 testes, 11 of patients who were treated with hCG before orchiopexy and 15 from patients nontreated with hCG
Summary
Cryptorchidism is the most frequent anomaly caused by a flaw in testicular migration. Failure to treat cryptorchidism would result in testicular atrophy and infertility. The most common histological findings in cryptorchidism are: a) germinative cells number decrease in various maturation stages; b) variation in seminiferous tubules diameter, with a thickening in lamina propria and c) peritubular fibrosis [1,2]. TESTIS HISTOLOGY IN PATIENTS TREATED OR NOT WITH HCG. There are studies demonstrating histological alterations in cryptorchid testis in the first year of life, as Leydig and germinative cells decrease. The seminiferous tubules would develop atrophy in various degrees, the Sertoli cells would degenerate and hyalinosis and peritubular fibrosis may develop. Temperature increase in the cryptorchid testis would be an important factor in the genesis of histological alterations in advanced ages [3]
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