Testicular Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology Research Articles

Evaluation testicular fine needle aspiration cytology and serum testosterone levels in dogs

In order to verify alternative clinical approach in the reproductive evaluation of 4 adult dogs, the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and serum testosterone levels were used together with testicular volume measurement and semen analysis. FNAC was performed in both testes and serum testosterone concentrations were assayed in regular intervals during a 24h period. Results of semen analysis and FNAC were normal in dogs 1 and 3. In dog 2, small testes, poor semen quality, a high percentage of Sertoli cells and early spermatids were found suggesting testicular degeneration. In dog 4, a small right testicle, poor semen quality with low sperm concentration and an uncounted amount of spermatozoa in the FNAC indicated testicular degeneration due to an obstructive lesion; whereas high percentage of distal droplets, thicker left epididymis and normal FNAC of the left testis suggested a slow sperm transit. Testosterone circadian rhythm was clear in 3 of 4 dogs, although concentrations were low. Testicular volume, semen analysis and testicular FNAC could provide valuable information about spermatogenesis. In contrast, serum testosterone concentration was not clearly correlated with any reproductive characteristic of those dogs.

Assessment of seasonal influence on equine spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells by testicular fine needle aspiration cytology

Although several methods of testicular biopsy have been proposed previously, testicular fine needle aspiration (FNA) has proved to be the simplest, the most rapid, inexpensive, and overall the least invasive technique for obtaining testicular biopsies. Testicular FNA is indicated for fertility investigations in stallions with oligozoospermia or azoospermia. It is also used for differential diagnosis of testicular enlargement. After sedation, the stallion’s testis is punctured to obtain testicular parenchyma samples containing cells mainly from the seminiferous epithelium. The material obtained is used to perform smears which are analyzed for identification and quantification of germ cells and Sertoli cells. The results are based on the presence of the cell types found in the smears and the proportions of Sertoli cells per germ cells. In addition to being a very useful diagnostic tool, testicular FNA is also used for follow-up examinations, as it is minimally invasive.

Testicular fine needle aspiration cytology from a stallion with testicular degeneration after external genitalia trauma

A seven-year-old Quarter Horse had a serious external genitalia trauma with severe swelling of ventrum, penis, prepuce and scrotum after falling over a fence. Appropriated treatment was rapidly started after clinical examination. During recovery period, the spermatogenesis assess by semen evaluation was not possible due to stallion's inability to ejaculate. Therefore, for testicular evaluation fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed. The first FNAC showed a deviation of germ cell line towards immature cells, mainly by primary spermatocytes (59.5%) with very few late spermatids and spermatozoa (2.5% each), and an increased Sertoli cells/germ cells ratio (478/100), which characterized testicular degeneration. One month after the first FNAC, the second exam presented a drastic decrease of Sertoli cells/germ cells ratio (7/100) and marked increase of mature cell number, specially by early and late spermatids (50% and 24.5%, respectively). In this case, the results of both FNAC could demonstrate a partial recovery of spermatogenesis activity. Two months later, the stallion had mated two mares successfully and they became pregnant. In conclusion, the adequate treatment allowed a complete recovery of the stallion's reproductive function, and since semen collection was impossible during treatment, testicular FNAC showed to be an efficient diagnostic method for evaluating acute damage in the spermatogenesis.

Testicular Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology for the Diagnosis of Azoospermia and Oligospermia

To evaluate qualitative and quantitative cytologic features on testicular fine needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of azoospermia and oligospermia and to correlate cytologic and histologic diagnoses. In this prospective study, 50 infertile males selected from the infertility clinic of Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital were studied. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) smears from both testes of 27 azoospermic and 23 oligospermic patients (sperm count < 10 million per milliliter) were stained with May-Grünwald-Giemsa and Papanicolaou stain. Differential counting of 500 spermatogenic cells was done, and the number of Sertoli cells per 500 germ cells was determined for calculating the spermatic index and Sertoli cell index, respectively. FNAC and testicular biopsy were performed under local anesthesia as a minor surgical procedure. Six groups were identified on FNAC smears from azoospermic patients: I. normal spermatogenesis (8), II. hypospermatogenesis (2), III. maturation arrest (2), IV. Sertoli cells only (6), V. atrophic pattern (7), and VI. Leydig cell predominance (2). In oligospermic patients two groups were identified: I. those with normal spermatogenesis (4), and II. those with subnormal spermatogenesis (19). Correlation with histopathologic examination was seen in 81.5% azoospermic and 65.2% oligospermic patients. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of testicular FNAC provides useful information on both azoospermic and oligospermic patients. FNAC performed under local anesthesia is an acceptable outpatient procedure that consistently yields sufficient diagnostic material in all patients.

Correlation of Cell Counts and Indices in Testicular FNAC with Histology in Male Infertility

To evaluate the value of percentage cell counts and cell indices in testicular fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in male infertility and their correlation with histologic categories as seen in open testicular biopsies. Differential cell counts were performed, and cell indices, including spermatic index, Sertoli cell index and sperm-Sertoli cell index, were calculated in testicular fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears in 30 azoospermic males whose open testicular biopsies were classified as normal spermatogenesis in 10 cases, maturation arrest in 5, hypospermatogenesis in 6, Sertoli cell only syndrome in 5 and tubular/peritubular sclerosis in 4. In normal spermatogenesis, FNA smears showed up to 40% Sertoli cells, and spermatozoa were the predominant spermatogenetic cell type. There was a progressive increase in Sertoli cell percentage and Sertoli cell index and reduction in spermatozon percentage, spermatic index and sperm-Sertoli cell index with increasing severity of reduction in spermatogenesis in different histologic categories. The differences between mean counts and indices in normal spermatogenesis and other histologic categories were statistically significant (P < .01). The percent cell counts and cell indices in testicular FNAC correlate with histologic categories and are useful in evaluating male infertility.

Testicular fine needle aspiration cytology as a diagnostic tool in dog infertility.

The results of testicular aspirate cytology taken from clinical patients with a history of infertility were compared with the clinical and histological findings. Azoospermia was the most common and the most rewarding indication for the examination. Samples were also taken from cases with suspected testicular tumours, orchitis, epididymitis, severe oligo- and teratozoospermia, lack of libido and unilateral testicular atrophy. Histological and cytological findings were found to correlate well. Identification of cell types from normal germinal epithelium was relatively easy. No immediate adverse effects of aspiration were noted. Five normospermic dogs were monitored for two to six months after aspiration, and there were no marked deleterious effects on testicular consistency, testicular histology or semen characteristics. Testicular cytology obtained by fine needle aspiration may, at least to some extent, be used to assist clinical diagnosis, especially in azoospermic dogs and dogs with palpable changes of testicular tissue.

Functional and cytologic features of the contralateral testis in cryptorchidism

To characterize the testicular cytologic pictures in cryptorchild and contralateral testis related to seminal pattern. Controlled clinical study. Andrological and urologic academic setting. One hundred nine patients orchidopexied because of unilateral cryptorchidism compared with 35 normospermic subjects. Bilateral testicular fine-needle aspiration cytology. Seminal parameters; testicular cytologic features; plasma levels of FSH, LH, and T; and ultrasound testicular examination. The cytologic analysis revealed an important quantitative and qualitative impairment of spermatogenic line in all the excryptorchid testes. These alterations are present in the contralateral testes only when azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia were observed, whereas in moderate oligozoospermic subjects a normal tubular status was evident. A compensatory activity in normally descended testis of normozoospermic patients was present. In unilateral cryptorchidism, a frequent testicular damage in the orchidopexied and in the contralateral descended testis suggests that this condition is the end point of different pathological conditions, including testicular intrinsic (congenital) and extrinsic (anatomical) causes. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of both testes represents a tool in the assessment of the tubular status in excryptorchid subjects.

The Contralateral Testis in Cryptorchid Patients

We performed bilateral testicular Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) in a large group of unilateral cryptorchid subjects to characterize the tubular status related to the seminal pattern. In azoospermic and in severe oligozoospermic subjects the cytological picture of the contralateral testis showed similar lesions to those observed in the cryptorchid testis, while in moderate oligozoospermic subjects this analysis revealed the presence of a normal spermatogenic line and in normospermic subjects the presence of a compensatory activity of the tubular function. In conclusion, in unilateral cryptorchidism a frequent testicular damage in the orchidopexied testis and a concomitant tubular alteration in the contralateral scrotal testis exist, suggesting that cryptorchidism is the end point of different pathological conditions, including intrinsic (congenital) and extrinsic (anatomical) causes. FNAC of both testes could represent a tool for the clinician in the assessment of the tubular status in cryptorchid subjects, above all in presence of azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia. In these cases the existence of intratesticular spermatids or mature spermatozoa allows new assisted reproduction techniques using intratesticular germ cells to be used.

Assessment of testicular spermatozoa morphology by image analysis.

We objectively evaluated the testicular sperm cell morphology. The spermatozoa head morphology was evaluated by image analysis as presented on testicular fine-needle aspiration cytology smears. 2,356 spermatozoa heads were classified into six groups, according to different morphology parameters. This objective method of morphologic assessment of testicular spermatozoa provides an important tool for the evaluation of testicular spermatozoa and can serve as a guide for therapy in male infertility.

Fine‐needle aspiration cytology in azoospermic males

Bilateral testicular fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed in 100 males, including 10 controls with normal fertility and 90 infertile azoospermic males. The various seminiferous tubular cells were easily identified in smears. It was possible to give a cytological diagnosis in histologic terms by analysis of the combinations of various cell types. The cytohistologic correlation in 25 cases was nearly 100%. FNAC is particularly useful in cases of obstructive azoospermia, where mature spermatozoa are seen in smears.

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the testes in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: preliminary report.

Eighteen patients with childhood acute lymphoblastic (ALL) or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in remission and 2 patients with ALL in suspected testicular relapses were studied by testicular fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Well-preserved testicular cells, both singly and in small clusters, were considered indicative of an adequate aspiration. Of 18 patients in remission, 17 had at least one adequate sample from each testis and one showed evidence of leukemic infiltrate. None of these patients experienced a relapse during a median follow up of 4 years. In 2 other patients with clinically suspected testicular relapses, the smears from fine needle aspirates contained numerous malignant lymphoid cells that could be readily distinguished from seminiferous tubular cells. The observations indicate that FNAC is a promising new approach to study testicular conditions in childhood ALL and NHL. A larger prospective study and accumulation of additional follow-up data is required before a definitive evaluation of the technique can be made.