title: Phenotypic characterization of the immune and mast cell infiltrates in the human testis shows normal and abnormal spermatogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the types, distributions, and numbers of immune cell infiltrates in the testes of men with azoospermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University research and clinical institutes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one men with azoospermia showing normal spermatogenesis (n = 10), germ cell maturation arrest (GA, n = 12), and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCO, n = 9).
  
  
  METHODS
  Testicular tissue biopsies. Sections were stained with routine (hematoxyline and eosin), special (Masson Trichrome, Gordon, Periodic Acid Schiff, Aldehyde Fuchsin, and Orcein stains), and immunoperoxidase stains (using monoclonal antibodies for B and T cells and CD68 macrophages).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of T, FSH, and LH in addition to histopathological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hormonal profiles were unremarkable in all patients. Marked deposition of the reticular and collagen fibers was seen more in abnormal than normal spermatogenesis. The immune (B and T lymphocytes and CD68 macrophages) and mast cells were found in the interstitium, tubular walls, and lumens of all the testes analyzed. The differential counts of these cells (B and T lymphocytes, CD68 macrophages, and mast cells, respectively) were higher in SCO (1.66 +/- 0.46, 9.14 +/- 1.30, 2.26 +/- 1.68, 3.35 +/- 0.23) and GA (2.03 +/- 0.48, 4.70 +/- 1.00, 2.61 +/- 0.70, and 4.18 +/- 0.13) when compared with those in normal spermatogenesis (1.22 +/- 0.19, 5.41 +/- 0.58, 1.55 +/- 0.33, and 2.26 +/- 0.13). Increased cellular counts were not statistically significant for T and B cells and macrophages. However, these differences were statistically significant for mast cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormal spermatogenesis is associated with increased numbers of the immune and mast cells. Our findings may reflect an exaggerated immune response in these cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculties of Medicine, Assuit and South Valley Universities, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mahmoud R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.forename: Eman S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Abou-Deif
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bedaiwy
authors.forename: Tamer M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: Mohammad G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Essam
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nada
authors.forename: Alae
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ezat
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000276:immunology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*