MORPHOMETRIC EPIDIDYMAL EPITHELIUM ANALYSIS IN OBSTRUCTIVE AZOOSPERMIC MEN - PREDICTIVE VALUES IN FERTILIZATION RATES

Purpose: Our purpose was to determine the obstructed epididymal epithe lium morphometric stare and to elucidate the influence of morphometric parameters on the fertilizing ability of aspirated spermatozoa. Metho ds: During MESA with IVF, epididymal tissue samples were carefully dis sected, fixed, and prepared for morphometric analysis. The epithelium of the three regions was studied: head, body, and tail (when present). The total area/luminal area ratio, epithelium thickness, and stereoci lium length were measured. Results: We have found significant differen ces in the total area/luminal area ratio, epithelium thickness, and st ereocilium length in obstructed epididymal length >4 versus 0.5-2 cm ( P less than or equal to 0.01). Epithelium thickness and stereocilium l ength were significantly lower when no fertilization was observed in I VF. Conclusions: These results suggest that morphometric data of obstr ucted epididymis epithelium can be used as a means of explaining the f ailure of NF with epididymal spermatozoa.