[DNA synthesis in the testes of infertile men with varicocele--image cytometeric analysis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen].
BACKGROUND
The analysis of cell kinetics of germ cells have been implicated as important clue to investigate the etiology of infertile patients. We examined the germ cell kinetics of varicocele testis using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaing by image cytometry (CAS 2000), which is very accurate and useful method to evaluate the staining intensity.


METHODS
Testicular biopsy specimen obtained from 28 cases of male infertility with left varicocele and 5 normal controls were quantitatively examined concerning PCNA expression. Positive rate of PCNA (PR) was expressed as the percent of nuclear area positively stained with PCNA monoclonal antibody compared with total nuclear area analyzed in more than 20 seminiferous tubules. A hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections, which were fixed in Bouin's solution were used to examine Johnsen's mean score by photomicroscopy.


RESULTS
PR of right and left testes of varicocele patients were 11.3 +/- 4.8% and 11.3 +/- 4.1%, respectively. PR of normal testes was 21.7 +/- 3.1%. PR of each side were reduced similarly and the difference of PR between right and left testes of varicocele patients were not significant. Bilateral PR was 11.4 +/- 4.1%. Bilateral PR was significant lower than that of normal testes (p < 0.001). Concerning varicocele grade, sperm concentration of seminogram, Johnsen's mean score and the improvement of seminogram, no significant correlations between PR and those were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
PR evaluated by image cytometry is very useful biological parameter to assess the germ cell kinetics. In varicocele patients, not only left side but also right side of testes were deteriorated in the cell kinetics and the decrease in DNA synthesis is one of the causes that have deleterious effects on spermatogenesis.
Tanaka
H
H
Department of Urology, Kakogawa Prefectural Hospital, Kobe University School of Medicine.
Fujisawa
M
M
Okada
H
H
Arakawa
S
S
Kamidono
S
S
D000328:Adult; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D019044:Image Cytometry; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014646:Varicocele / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D004247:DNA