title: Immunohistochemical localization of beta-endorphin in hyperplastic interstitial tissue of the human testis.
abstract: The immunohistochemical localization of beta-endorphin in the normal testis (two patients) and in the pathologic testis (two cases of Sertoli Cell Only Syndrome, two cases of Klinefelter Syndrome, two cases of post-orchitis tubular sclero-hialinosis) was investigated. No beta-endorphin immunostaining was detected in the normal testis, while positive beta-endorphin immunostaining has been observed in pathologic tissues. These results indicate that, as in animals, beta-endorphin is present in human Leydig cells and may play a local role in regulating male reproductive function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Andrology and Cellular Biology, University of Rome, La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spera
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Benedetto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Falaschi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lauro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bolotti
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007713:Klinefelter Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009920:Orchitis / Q000473:pathology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin