title: Testicular focal atrophy--tubular blockade as partial degeneration of the tubule.
abstract: This study investigated whether focal atrophy is a degenerative process of a whole tubule or tubular blockade as partial intratesticular degeneration. Serial section analyses of testicular tissue from 19 men with different andrologic diseases were examined. From every fifth section of any series, defined areas were viewed under a light microscope, and tubule sections were drawn. Three-dimensional reconstructions were made from these materials. Reconstructions of the seminiferous tubules showed tubular blockade as partial degeneration of the tubules. Transition from an intact portion to a blockade was accompanied by an increase in the thickness of the lamina propria. The blockade was a cell cord that contained Sertoli cells and, at most, spermatogonia, or it was a completely atrophied tubule, a so-called tubular scar. In a given tubule, defined areas of atrophy and areas of spermatogenic activity were both found. Occurrence of tubular blockade increased with age. Serial section analyses of testicular tissue showed tubular blockade as the partial degeneration of seminiferous tubules. In focal atrophy, a given tubule can have defined areas of atrophy and areas of spermatogenic activity.
authors: Department of Urology, University of Hamburg, Germany.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Reek
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Breucker
authors: A F
authors: AF
authors: Holstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D001706:Biopsy; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000150:complications; D012016:Reference Values; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000473:pathology*; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology*