title: Identification of spermatogenesis in a rat sertoli-cell only model using Raman spectroscopy: a feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We determined whether Raman spectroscopy could identify spermatogenesis in a Sertoli-cell only rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A partial Sertoli-cell only model was created using a testicular hypothermia-ischemia technique. Bilateral testis biopsy was performed in 4 rats. Raman spectra were acquired with a probe in 1 mm3 samples of testicular tissue. India ink was used to mark the site of spectral acquisition. Comparative histopathology was applied to verify whether Raman spectra were obtained from Sertoli-cell only tubules or seminiferous tubules with spermatogenesis. Principal component analysis and logistic regression were used to develop a mathematical model to evaluate the predictive accuracy of identifying tubules with spermatogenesis vs Sertoli-cell only tubules.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Raman peak intensity changes were noted at 1,000 and 1,690 cm(-1) for tubules with spermatogenesis and Sertoli-cell only tubules, respectively. When principal components were used to predict whether seminferous tubules were Sertoli-cell only tubules or showed spermatogenesis, sensitivity and specificity were 96% and 100%, respectively. The ROC AUC to predict tubules with spermatogenesis with Raman spectroscopy was 0.98.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Raman spectroscopy is capable of identifying seminiferous tubules with spermatogenesis in a Sertoli-cell only ex vivo rat model. Future ex vivo studies of human testicular tissue are necessary to confirm whether these findings can be translated to the clinical setting.
authors: Department of Urology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors: E Charles
authors: EC
authors: Osterberg
authors: Department of Urology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors: Melissa A
authors: MA
authors: Laudano
authors: Department of Urology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors: Ranjith
authors: R
authors: Ramasamy
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors: Joshua
authors: J
authors: Sterling
authors: Department of Pathology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors: Brian D
authors: BD
authors: Robinson
authors: Department of Urology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Goldstein
authors: Department of Urology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors: Philip S
authors: PS
authors: Li
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors: Abigail S
authors: AS
authors: Haka
authors: Department of Urology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York. Electronic address: pnschleg@med.cornell.edu.
authors: Peter N
authors: PN
authors: Schlegel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012708:Sertoli Cells; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013091:Spermatogenesis
keywords: Raman; Sertoli cell-only syndrome; azoospermia; spectrum analysis; spermatogenesis; testis