Altered expression pattern of heat shock transcription factor, Y chromosome (HSFY) may be related to altered differentiation of spermatogenic cells in testes with deteriorated spermatogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression patterns of heat shock transcription factor, Y chromosome (HSFY), in the testes showing deteriorated spermatogenesis.
DESIGN: Prospective study.
SETTING: University hospital, its branch hospital, and academic laboratory. PATIENT(S): Men undergoing testicular biopsy for the investigation of infertility and men undergoing orchiectomy for testicular cancer. INTERVENTION(S): After pathologic evaluation, specimens were subdivided into three groups: normal spermatogenesis (n = 8), maturation arrest (n = 5), and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (n = 4). Immunostaining and Western blotting techniques determined the expression of HSFY. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Expression of HSFY in testes. RESULT(S): Western blotting data revealed HSFY in the testicular tissues with normal spermatogenesis, maturation arrest, and Sertoli cell-only syndrome, but the amount of the protein in the maturation arrest and Sertoli cell-only syndrome samples was altered. The immunohistochemical data demonstrated that HSFY was expressed in spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells in all specimens. However, the expression of HSFY was low or absent in spermatogenic cells of maturation arrest specimens, and the ratio of HSFY expressed in Sertoli cells was different in the specimens with maturation arrest and with Sertoli cell-only syndrome. CONCLUSION(S): Altered expression of the HSFY in the testis showing deteriorated spermatogenesis may be associated with alteration of spermatogenic cell differentiation.