Histological versus stereological methods applied at spermatogonia during normal human development.
The number of spermatogonia per tubular transverse section (S/T), and the percentage of seminiferous tubulus containing spermatogonia (the fertility index (FI] were measured in 40 pairs of normal autopsy testes aged 28 weeks of gestation-40 years. S/T and FI showed similar changes during the whole period, and were minimal between 1 and 4 years. The number of spermatogonia per testis (S/testis) and the number of spermatogonia per cm3 testis tissue (S/cm3) were estimated by stereological methods in the same testes. S/T and FI respectively were significantly correlated both to S/testis and S/cm3. So quantification of spermatogonia by S/T or FI measurement is a reasonable alternative to stereological examinations.
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Department of Paediatric Surgery, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology; D013076:Sperm Count; D013079:Sperm Maturation / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*