IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTORS IN HUMAN TESTIS FROM INFERTILE SUBJECTS

Objective: To investigate the immunolocalization of the epidermal grow th factor receptor (EGFR) in normal and pathological human testis by i mmunocytochemical technique. Design: Cytologic specimens were obtained by bilateral fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the testis and stained i n May Grunwald-Giemsa for the cytologic analysis; immunolocalization o f EGFR was analyzed on duplicate slides from each testis using two ant i-EGFR monoclonal antibodies and peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. Setting: Infertility center of an academic unit. Patients: A total of 42 infertile patients, affected by various testicular diseases. The co ntrol group was made up of 10 normal sperm patients with autoimmune in fertility and cytologic picture of normal spermatogenesis. Interventio ns: Exogenous FSH was administered 75 IU IM on alternate days for 3 mo nths on 16 of the infertile patients who showed oligospermia and norma l FSH plasma levels. Semen analysis and testicular FNA (and after cyto logic and immunocytochemical studies) were repeated at 3 months of tre atment. Main Outcome Measures: Luteinizing hormone and FSH plasma leve ls were determined by RIA methods; qualitative and quantitative parame ters for the cytologic evaluation are reported in our previous works.