[Expression of inhibin B betaB subunits in the testicular tissues of azoospermia patients with different pathological alterations].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of inhibin B betaB subunits in human testicular tissues.


METHODS
Eighty-three cases of the azoospermia underwent testicular biopsy. In accordance with the pathological alterations of spermatogenesis, the samples were divided into four groups: Sertoli-cell-only syndrome (n = 21); hypospermatogenesis (n = 20), maturation arrest (n = 24) and almost normal spermatogenesis (n = 18). Immunohistochemical staining for inhibin B betaB subunits was conducted on the paraffin-embedded sections of different spermatogenesis to localize inhibin B betaB subunits in the seminiferous tubules.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemically, positive products of inhibin B betaB subunits were found in both the seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissues of the testis as brown or yellow particles in the cytoplasm. Leydig cells and early intermediate spermatogenic cells showed a very strong positivity; Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules were mostly positive; peritubular myoid cells showed a weak positive staining; but no positive expression of inhibin B betaB subunits was found in late spermatids and mature sperm.


CONCLUSIONS
Inhibin B may be produced by both Sertoli cells and early spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules.
Dong
Zhi-Ying
ZY
Department of Urology, Bethune International Peace Hospital of PLA, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050082, China. zhiydong@163.com
Yu
Hui
H
Xiu
He-Ming
HM
Sun
Hui-Chen
HC
Qiu
Jian-Hong
JH
D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits