Ruili Li1, Jorgen Thorup2, Cong Sun3, Dina Cortes4, Bridget Southwell5, John Hutson6. 1. Surgical Research Laboratory, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: ruili.li@mcri.edu.au. 2. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. 3. Environmental and Genetic Epidemiology Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. 4. Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. 5. Surgical Research Laboratory, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. 6. Surgical Research Laboratory, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Urology Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: john.hutson@rch.org.au.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Undescended testis is the most common defect in male newborns. This condition is associated with increased risks of infertility and testicular malignancy due to abnormal germ cell development in the testes. Early surgery may limit such risks. We analyzed germ cell development vs age at orchiopexy using a germ cell marker and a Sertoli cell marker on testicular biopsies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 22 testicular biopsies at orchiopexy in 20 patients 5 to 24.5 months old were fixed and embedded in paraffin. Sections were processed and labeled with AMH antibody for Sertoli cells and MVH antibody for germ cells for immunofluorescent histochemical analysis. Confocal images were counted using ImageJ (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland) for germ cells and testicular tubules. The data were analyzed using linear regression. RESULTS: Sertoli cells were clearly distinguished from MVH positive and negative germ cells located centrally or on basement membranes of tubules. Percentage of tubules with MVH negative germ cells significantly decreased with increasing age at orchiopexy (β = -0.03, p = 0.03). Total tubular numbers and "empty" tubules without germ cells significantly increased with age at orchiopexy (β = 1.15, p = 0.02 and β = 0.44, p = 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: AMH antibody distinguished Sertoli cells from germ cells, and MVH antibody distinguished 2 types of germ cells at different developmental stages. Biopsy at orchiopexy in older patients showed significant germ cell depletion. These results lend support to early surgery to optimize germ cell number.
PURPOSE: Undescended testis is the most common defect in male newborns. This condition is associated with increased risks of infertility and testicular malignancy due to abnormal germ cell development in the testes. Early surgery may limit such risks. We analyzed germ cell development vs age at orchiopexy using a germ cell marker and a Sertoli cell marker on testicular biopsies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 22 testicular biopsies at orchiopexy in 20 patients 5 to 24.5 months old were fixed and embedded in paraffin. Sections were processed and labeled with AMH antibody for Sertoli cells and MVH antibody for germ cells for immunofluorescent histochemical analysis. Confocal images were counted using ImageJ (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland) for germ cells and testicular tubules. The data were analyzed using linear regression. RESULTS: Sertoli cells were clearly distinguished from MVH positive and negative germ cells located centrally or on basement membranes of tubules. Percentage of tubules with MVH negative germ cells significantly decreased with increasing age at orchiopexy (β = -0.03, p = 0.03). Total tubular numbers and "empty" tubules without germ cells significantly increased with age at orchiopexy (β = 1.15, p = 0.02 and β = 0.44, p = 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: AMH antibody distinguished Sertoli cells from germ cells, and MVH antibody distinguished 2 types of germ cells at different developmental stages. Biopsy at orchiopexy in older patients showed significant germ cell depletion. These results lend support to early surgery to optimize germ cell number.
Authors: Vanessa Wilson; Jorgen Thorup; Erick Clasen-Linde; Dina Cortes; John M Hutson; Ruili Li Journal: Pediatr Surg Int Date: 2019-08-21 Impact factor: 1.827
Authors: Joana M D Portela; Laura Heckmann; Joachim Wistuba; Andrea Sansone; Ans M M van Pelt; Sabine Kliesch; Stefan Schlatt; Nina Neuhaus Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2020-01-14 Impact factor: 4.241