title: A histomorphometric and cytogenetic study of testis from men 29-102 years old.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of aging on testicular histology and the aneuploidy rate in testis postmeiotic cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison between older men and younger men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Deceased donors and patients who requested assisted reproductive technology (ART).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six older men (61-102 years old) and 10 younger men (29-40 years old).
  
  
  METHODS
  Testes were obtained from 35 deceased donors, and testicular biopsies were obtained from 11 patients who requested ART.
  
  
  METHODS
  Histomorphometry of testis and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), with a three-probe set X, Y, and 18.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The histomorphometric study showed a thickening of the basal membrane when spermatogenesis was arrested. The number of germinal and Sertoli cells decreased as age increased. The rate of aneuploidy of postmeiotic cells was 1.1% for the control group, 1.29% for older subjects with preserved spermatogenesis, and 14.28% for the subjects with an arrested spermiogenesis. Only this last figure was higher than the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of aneuploidy in older subjects (61-95 years old) with preserved spermatogenesis was not statistically different from that found in the control group; it was increased in older subjects with arrested spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Histologie Embryologie, UFR des Saint Pères, Université Paris V et UFR Paris Ile de France Ouest, Université de Versailles-Saint Quentin, Paris. dakouane@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mbarka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dakouane
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bicchieray
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergere
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vialard
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Selva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000782:Aneuploidy; D003582:Cytogenetics; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000473:pathology; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000473:pathology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology*