Differentiation of spermatogenic cells during in-vitro culture of testicular biopsy samples from patients with obstructive azoospermia: effect of recombinant follicle stimulating hormone

In-vitro differentiation of spermatogenic cells is a potential approach to the treatment of male sterility due to spermatogenic arrest. This is a pilo t study evaluating meiotic, morphogenetic and cytoplasmic maturation of spe rmatogenic cells from 18 patients with obstructive azoospermia, during in-v itro culture of partly disintegrated testicular biopsy samples in the prese nce or absence of recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH). Meiotic progression was detectable only in the presence of rFSH in culture medium. FSH-dependent condensation, peripheral migration and protrusion of spermati d nuclei, together with FSH-independent flagellar growth, were the main eve nts indicating post-meiotic sperm cell differentiation. rFSH also promoted the progression of spermatid cytoplasmic maturation, reflected by accelerat ion of acrosomal development. These differentiation events appeared to be m ediated by humoral activity of Sertoli cells, without the need for a direct Sertoli-sperm cell contact. These findings provide a background for simila r studies in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia, If reproducible in the latter group, transmeiotic in-vitro differentiation of primary spermato cytes may be useful in cases of complete maturation arrest, whereas the dev elopment of culture-specific forms may help select viable spermatids in cas es of complete spermiogenesis failure.