[Aging of the human testis].
The morphological and histological changes related to testicular aging are: volume decrease, arteriolar sclerosis, degeneration of Leydig cells and Sertoli, depletion of germ cells and thickening of the tunica albuginea testis. The participation in testicular androgen decline in aging is related to the decrease in the number of Leydig cells associated with alterations in the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis Sperm volume, concentration and total number, motility and morphology of sperm decrease with aging male. The interindividual variability of sperm parameters, the variability of methodologies for data collection and selection of patients must be careful in interpreting the published results. Overall, the quality of sperm decreases progressively with age, without any age limit that can be individualized. Alterations of spermatogenesis do not seem significantly compromising fertility in the elderly. The clinical impact of testicular aging implies androgen production decrease and diseases associated with aging.
CHU-Hôpitaux de Rouen, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, service d'urologie, 76000 Rouen, France; CHU-Hôpitaux de Rouen, EA 4308 « Gamètogenèse et qualité du gamète », IRIB, université de Rouen, 76000 Rouen, France. Electronic address: louis.sibert@chu-rouen.fr.
Louis
L
Sibert
CHU-Hôpitaux de Rouen, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, service d'urologie, 76000 Rouen, France.
Emeric
E
Lacarrière
CHU-Hôpitaux de Rouen, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, service d'urologie, 76000 Rouen, France; CHU-Hôpitaux de Rouen, EA 4308 « Gamètogenèse et qualité du gamète », IRIB, université de Rouen, 76000 Rouen, France.
Athmane
A
Safsaf
CHU-Hôpitaux de Rouen, EA 4308 « Gamètogenèse et qualité du gamète », IRIB, université de Rouen, 76000 Rouen, France; CHU-Hôpitaux de Rouen, laboratoire de biologie de la reproduction-CECOS, 76000 Rouen, France.
Nathalie
N
Rives
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*