Human Reproduction, Vol. 17, No. 2, 383-389,
February 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Long-term cultures of testicular biopsies from boys with cryptorchidism: effect of FSH and LH on the number of germ cells
1 Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, section 5712, 2 Department of Paediatric Surgery, 4072, The National University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100, Copenhagen and 3 Department of Biostatistics, University of DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
BACKGROUND: A long-term culture system of testicular biopsies from boys with undescended testes was established to evaluate the effect of gonadotrophins on germ cell survival and growth. METHODS: Biopsies from 25 boys with cryptorchidism, aged 1.1–9.9 years, were obtained at the time of surgery. Each biopsy was subdivided into fragments and cultured for 1 or 3 weeks in a testis culture medium without gonadotrophins or supplemented with FSH (50 IU/l) or LH (5 IU/l), or a combination of FSH (50 IU/l) plus LH (5 IU/l). The survival of the germ cells was evaluated by calculating the ratio of spermatogonia and gonocytes per cross-sectioned testicular tubule, the S/T ratio. RESULTS: All cultured fragments maintained their overall morphology. A significantly reduced S/T ratio was observed in the fragments cultured in the presence of LH (P = 0.006), independently of the culture period. The mean tubular diameter in fragments cultured for 1 week with hormones was significantly larger than that of the controls (P < 0.0002). All cultured fragments had a larger tubular diameter than the uncultured fragments (P = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: This culture system supports survival of spermatogonia for at least 3 weeks. LH either alone or in combination with FSH results in a significantly reduced S/T ratio.
Key words: human/prepubertal/testis/tissue culture
4 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, section 5712, The National University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø. Denmark. E-mail: hplarsen{at}e-box.dk
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