Structural analysis of gubernaculum testis in cryptorchid patients submitted to treatment with human chorionic gonadotrophin.
OBJECTIVE
To make a histological and stereological analysis of gubernaculum testis elastic system fibers, collagen and striated muscle cells in patients with cryptorchidism treated with human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG).


METHODS
Gubernacula tissue samples were obtained from 12 patients with cryptorchidism. Patients' ages ranged from 1 to 3 years (mean 1.8). Of the 12 patients, 6 were treated with hCG. The samples were stained with Masson's trichrome to highlight muscle fibers and collagen, and Weigert's resorcin-fuchsin to highlight the elastic system fibers. The volumetric density of these components was determined by stereological methods.


RESULTS
The volumetric density of collagen was increased in patients treated with hCG, ranging from 85.62% to 94.48%, while in patients not submitted to hCG treatment the volume density ranged from 52.12% to 89.46% (p=0.0052). The volumetric density of the elastic system fibers was higher in patients treated with hCG, ranging from 9.62% to 19.62%, while patients not submitted to hCG treatment the volume density of elastic system fibers was between 10.38% and 12.38% (p=0.0030). The volume density of striated muscle fibers in patients treated with hCG ranged from 4.76% to 39.16%, while and in patients not treated hCG it ranged from 3.24% to 11.14% (p=0.0052).


CONCLUSIONS
Gubernacular components alter significantly when submitted to treatment with hCG. Patients who underwent hCG treatment and had no complete testicular migration had an increase in the concentration of elastic and striated muscle fibers and a decrease in the volumetric density of collagen.
El Zoghbi
Charbel S
CS
Urogenital Research Unit, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Favorito
Luciano A
LA
Costa
Waldemar S
WS
Sampaio
Francisco J B
FJ
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D003094:Collagen