You have accessJournal of UrologyInfertility: Therapy1 Apr 2015MP74-17 POTENTIAL OF OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY (OCT) AND PROBE-BASED CONFOCAL LASERENDOMICROSCOPY (PCLE) IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE TESTIS – A FEASIBILITY STUDY Matthias Trottmann, Sabine Kölle, Christian Homann, Herbert Stepp, Daniel Döring, Regina Leeb, Sven Reese, Christian G. Stief, and Ronald Sroka Matthias TrottmannMatthias Trottmann More articles by this author , Sabine KölleSabine Kölle More articles by this author , Christian HomannChristian Homann More articles by this author , Herbert SteppHerbert Stepp More articles by this author , Daniel DöringDaniel Döring More articles by this author , Regina LeebRegina Leeb More articles by this author , Sven ReeseSven Reese More articles by this author , Christian G. StiefChristian G. Stief More articles by this author , and Ronald SrokaRonald Sroka More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2015.02.2672AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Male infertility is often due to azoospermia which is mainly addressed surgically by testicular sperm extraction. As no imaging technique for the detection of spermatozoa in vivo is available to date, the positive sperm retrieval rate is merely 50%. Therefore the aim of this study was the investigation of the potential of probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) for micron-scale imaging of testis microarchitecture. METHODS Specimens of bovine testes and epididymides were obtained after slaughter (n=14). For OCT imaging FDA-approved probe-based Niris Imaging System (probe diameter 2.7 mm; axial resolution (AR) 10-20 μm, lateral resolution (LR) 25-50 μm; 1310 nm, Imalux, Cleveland, Ohio, USA) and microscopic style OCT system (AR 5 μm; LR 8-15μ m; Telesto 1325 nm, Ganymede 930 nm, Thorlabs Inc., Dachau, Germany) were used. All obtained images were compared to histological findings after H&E staining. For pCLE Cellvizio® system (Mauna Kea Technologies, France) images were correlated to those obtained by confocal laser microscopy, light microscopy and phase contrast microscopy. For pCLE, the probes ProFlex™ S1500 (LR 3.3 μm; surface imaging) and ProFlex™ Ultra Mini O (LR 1.4 μm; imaging depth of 60 μm) were used. As fluorescent agents 0.001% fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), 5% cresyl violet solution (CV), 0,001% TO-PRO®-3 Iodide (T3) and 0.04 % acriflavine (AF) were used. RESULTS By microscopic OCT imaging the testicular and epididymal microarchitecture including ducts and tubules could be identified. Furthermore intra-tubular content and diameter of the tubules could be were analysed. As optical resolution of probe-based Niris Imaging System was distinctly reduced, imaging of testicular tissue did not provide detailed information on single spermatozoa. By pCLE real-time imaging, cells of spermatogenesis and supporting Leydig cells could be identified as well as different cell compartments in the testis. Contrary to OCT, single viable spermatozoa were identified. CONCLUSIONS Microscopic OCT and pCLE techniques looks promising for ex-vivo imaging of specific testicular tissue areas thus discovering spermatozoa fertile areas looks feasible. In comparison to pCLE OCT does not need any fluorescence labelling. The results imply that application of these novel imaging techniques might improve sperm retrieval rates during testicular sperm extraction (TESE) by optical guidance. © 2015 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 193Issue 4SApril 2015Page: e945-e946 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2015 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Matthias Trottmann More articles by this author Sabine Kölle More articles by this author Christian Homann More articles by this author Herbert Stepp More articles by this author Daniel Döring More articles by this author Regina Leeb More articles by this author Sven Reese More articles by this author Christian G. Stief More articles by this author Ronald Sroka More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...