Evaluation of seminiferous tubule scores obtained through testicular biopsy examinations of nonobstructive azoospermic men.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the seminiferous tubules of nonobstructive azoospermic men, a modified version of the Johnsen score known as the seminiferous tubule score was used.


METHODS
Retrospective clinical study.


METHODS
University-based urology center.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-eight infertile men with nonobstructive azoospermia who underwent open testicular biopsy.


METHODS
Categorization as follows of various seminiferous tubule characteristics according to the modified seminiferous tubule score parameters: [1] a total absence of cells within the seminiferous tubule, [2] Sertoli cell only, [3] a few spermatogonia, [4] many spermatogonia, [5] a few primary spermatocytes, [6] many primary spermatocytes, [7] a few secondary spermatocytes, [8] many secondary spermatocytes, [9] a few round spermatids, [10] many round spermatids, [11] a few late spermatids and/or spermatozoa, and [12] many late spermatids and/or spermatozoa.


METHODS
Seminiferous tubule score.


RESULTS
In terms of maximum seminiferous tubule score, scores of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 corresponded with total patient numbers of 9, 90, 0, 0, 3, 10, 0, 0, 3, 1, 11, and 1, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
It was discovered that intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of round spermatids could be performed in 3.1% of the patients in this study and that ICSI using late spermatids or spermatozoa could be performed in 9.4% of the patients in order to achieve fertilization.
Yoshida
A
A
First Department of Urology, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Miura
K
K
Shirai
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000473:pathology*; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology
D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone