Morphometric epididymal epithelium analysis in obstructive azoospermic men: predictive values in fertilization rates.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine the obstructed epididymal epithelium morphometric state and to elucidate the influence of morphometric parameters on the fertilizing ability of aspirated spermatozoa.


METHODS
During MESA with IVF, epididymal tissue samples were carefully dissected, fixed, and prepared for morphometric analysis. The epithelium of the three regions was studied: head, body, and tail (when present). The total area/luminal area ratio, epithelium thickness, and stereocilium length were measured.


RESULTS
We have found significant differences in the total area/luminal area ratio, epithelium thickness, and stereocilium length in obstructed epithelium length > 4 versus 0.5-2 cm (P < or = 0.01). Epithelium thickness and stereocilium length were significantly lower when no fertilization was observed in IVF.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that morphometric data of obstructed epididymis epithelium can be used as a means of explaining the failure of IVF with epididymal spermatozoa.
Perrotin
F
F
Département de Gynécologie Obstétrique, CHU Bretonneau, Tours, France.
Hamamah
S
S
Royere
D
D
Barthelemy
C
C
Body
G
G
Lansac
J
J
D002469:Cell Separation; D004822:Epididymis / Q000473:pathology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*