APOPTOTIC FREQUENCY IS INCREASED IN SPERMATOGENIC MATURATION ARREST AND HYPOSPERMATOGENIC STATES

Purpose: Increased testicular apoptosis has been observed in maturatio n arrest and hypospermatogenesis states in rodent models, but this pro cess has not yet been characterized in humans. We hypothesized that in creased cell death present with accelerated apoptosis is significant i n pathophysiology of many male infertility states associated with abno rmal spermatogenesis. We examined frequency of apoptotic bodies in hum an testis biopsy specimens from infertile men using morphometric analy sis of hematoxylin and eosin stained paraffin sections. Materials and Methods: Testis biopsy specimens were obtained for routine clinical pu rposes from azoospermic and severely oligozoospermic men and were stai ned with hematoxylin and eosin. Apoptotic bodies were identified using established morphometric criteria. Apoptotic indexes, defined as apop totic bodies per total number of cells and per Sertoli cells, were cal culated after counting all intratubular spermatogenic cells and Sertol i cells in 20 tubules. Results: A total of 51 biopsies was performed i n 50 men. Significantly increased apoptotic body per total cell and ap optotic body per Sertoli cell ratios were observed in maturation arres t and hypospermatogenesis states in comparison to Sertoli cell only an d normal spermatogenesis (p <0.05, Mann-Whitney test). Conclusions: In creased apoptosis in maturation arrest and hypospermatogenesis states compared to normal but obstructed spermatogenesis and Sertoli cell onl y were observed, indicating a prominent role for this form of programm ed cell death in human male infertility.