Myofibroblasts in adolescent varicocele: an ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study

Myofibroblasts of the testes play an important role in the morphofunctional integrity of the seminiferous tubule. Previous studies in adults with vari cocele have demonstrated an involvement of this cell population that tends to transform into fibroblasts. The aim of the present study was to try and verify the morphological features of myofibroblasts in the adolescent with left idiophatic varicocele. Twenty-two testicular biopsies were obtained fr om adolescents (aged 13-18 years, mean 15.8) and operated for left idiophat ic varicocele. Biopsies were processed for electron microscopy (TEM) and im munofluorescence studies. The latter determined the level of myofibroblasts by using cc-smooth muscle isoactin, a specific marker of myofibroblasts an d, hence, excluding fibroblasts. TEM observations revealed a normal ultrast ructure of myofibroblasts that was similar to that for the controls but an increased presence of extracellular matrix. The immunofluorescence study al ways demonstrated strong cell. positivity to anti alpha-smooth muscle isoac tin as also seen in the controls. This study demonstrates that adolescents with varicocele have well preserved myofibroblasts and do not show any evid ence of transformation into fibroblasts, this has already been demonstrated in adult varicocele. These observations could represent an important facto r for the understanding of the reversal of growth failure of the testes obs erved after early treatment.