Correlations between intralobular interstitial morphological changes and epithelial changes in ageing testis.

The study focuses on the possible influences of intra (I) lobular (L) stromal compounds [intertubular spaces and seminiferous (S) tubule (T) wall (W)] morphologic changes on S epithelium (E) during ageing process. The material consisted of surgical samples of testicular tissue from 192 patients with orchidectomy for prostate carcinoma. Seven age groups were designed, from 50 to 80 years. Tissue samples were fixed in neutral buffered formalin, embedded in paraffin stained with HE, Goldner and Gömöri and immunomarked (in a subgroup of 28 cases) for smooth muscle actin, collagen IV, and CD34. SE had an uneven involution, both individually and inter-individually, but with normal spermatogenesis in many of ST. E degenerative changes were seen mainly in L periphery. Different stages of maturation arresting were more frequent in older patients. IL septae had changes with extremely variable intensity, dispersed mainly in L periphery, without significant spread and without extensive trend with ageing. Leydig cells showed focal hyperplasia without extensive trend related with ageing. STW presented strictly in the internal layer of lamina propria (apposed to basement membrane of ES) a focal sclerosis, with variable extension concerning its presence, thickness and T circumference (T without sclerosis, with focal sclerosis and with fibro-hyaline "collar" - FHyC) but not related with ageing. IL arteriolae showed focal areas of degeneration with a wide individual and inter-individual range of intensity and extension, but not related with age. Capillary network (CN), with both its peri-T and intramural segments, was present in all age groups, with no quantitative endothelial changes and decreasing only in very old cases. FHyC was often associated with E atrophy. STW focal sclerosis could explain focal degeneration of SE in senescence, although CN undergoes no significant changes.