Estrogen receptor alpha localization in the testes of men with normal spermatogenesis Estrogen receptor alpha localization in the testes of men with normal spermatogenesis

It is known that estrogens act on the male reproductive tract by binding to estrogen receptors (ER) a and&lt;br /&gt;b. However, studies on ER localization in the human testis are discordant. The aim of this study was to investigate&lt;br /&gt;the localization of ERa in the testes of adult men with normal spermatogenesis. Semen analysis of ten adult men&lt;br /&gt;revealed azoospermia. FSH, LH and testosterone serum concentrations were within normal values, and the volume&lt;br /&gt;of the testes was normal, hence obstructive azoospermia was suspected. The tissues from testicular surgical&lt;br /&gt;biopsies were fixed in Bouin’s fluid and embedded in paraffin. Assessments of the seminiferous epithelium (scoring&lt;br /&gt;10 to –1), the number of Leydig cells (scoring 1 to 5), the areal fraction of intertubular space (IS), measurements&lt;br /&gt;of seminiferous tubule diameter, and the thickness of the tubular wall, were performed on microscopic&lt;br /&gt;sections. Immunohistochemical staining was applied with monoclonal antibodies against ERa. The mean spermatogenesis&lt;br /&gt;score was 10 points; IS — 30.6 ± 8.1%; seminiferous tubule diameter — 193.9 ± 19.4 μm; thickness of&lt;br /&gt;tubular wall — 7.44 ± 1.1 μm; number of Leydig cells — 1.6 ± 1.1 points. Immunohistochemical staining showed&lt;br /&gt;the localization of ERa to be in the Sertoli and Leydig cell cytoplasm, while ERa was absent in germ cells. The&lt;br /&gt;results of testicular tissue analysis confirmed its normal structure and normal, full spermatogenesis. The presence&lt;br /&gt;of ERa in Sertoli and Leydig cells in normal human testis demonstrated in this study suggests that estrogens may&lt;br /&gt;affect testicular function.<br>It is known that estrogens act on the male reproductive tract by binding to estrogen receptors (ER) a and&lt;br /&gt;b. However, studies on ER localization in the human testis are discordant. The aim of this study was to investigate&lt;br /&gt;the localization of ERa in the testes of adult men with normal spermatogenesis. Semen analysis of ten adult men&lt;br /&gt;revealed azoospermia. FSH, LH and testosterone serum concentrations were within normal values, and the volume&lt;br /&gt;of the testes was normal, hence obstructive azoospermia was suspected. The tissues from testicular surgical&lt;br /&gt;biopsies were fixed in Bouin’s fluid and embedded in paraffin. Assessments of the seminiferous epithelium (scoring&lt;br /&gt;10 to –1), the number of Leydig cells (scoring 1 to 5), the areal fraction of intertubular space (IS), measurements&lt;br /&gt;of seminiferous tubule diameter, and the thickness of the tubular wall, were performed on microscopic&lt;br /&gt;sections. Immunohistochemical staining was applied with monoclonal antibodies against ERa. The mean spermatogenesis&lt;br /&gt;score was 10 points; IS — 30.6 ± 8.1%; seminiferous tubule diameter — 193.9 ± 19.4 μm; thickness of&lt;br /&gt;tubular wall — 7.44 ± 1.1 μm; number of Leydig cells — 1.6 ± 1.1 points. Immunohistochemical staining showed&lt;br /&gt;the localization of ERa to be in the Sertoli and Leydig cell cytoplasm, while ERa was absent in germ cells. The&lt;br /&gt;results of testicular tissue analysis confirmed its normal structure and normal, full spermatogenesis. The presence&lt;br /&gt;of ERa in Sertoli and Leydig cells in normal human testis demonstrated in this study suggests that estrogens may&lt;br /&gt;affect testicular function. &lt;br /&gt;

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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