Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 8, No. 3, 213-220,
March 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Testis and spermatogenesis |
Fas expression correlates with human germ cell degeneration in meiotic and post-meiotic arrest of spermatogenesis
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Andrology Unit, 2 Statistics and 3 Department of Experimental Medicine, Endocrinology Unit, University of L'Aquila, Italy
Degeneration of human male germ cells was analysed by means of light (LM) and transmission electron (TEM) microscopy. The frequency of degenerating cells was correlated with that of Fas-expressing germ cells in human testes with normal spermatogenesis (n = 10), complete early maturation arrest (EMA) (n = 10) or incomplete late maturation arrest (LMA; n = 10) of spermatogenesis. LM analysis of testis sections with normal spermatogenesis indicated that degenerating germ cells were localized in the adluminal compartment of the seminiferous epithelium. TEM showed that apoptotic cells were mostly primary spermatocytes and, to a lesser extent, round or early elongating spermatids. Apoptotic germ cells appeared to be eliminated either in the seminiferous lumen or by Sertoli cell phagocytosis. An increased number of degenerating cells was observed in testes with LMA as compared with normal testes and testes with EMA of spermatogenesis (P < 0.001, Wilcoxon's rank sum test). Comparison of these results with those obtained from immunohistochemistry experiments demonstrated a tight correlation between the number of apoptotic cells and the number of Fas-expressing germ cells (P = 0.001, Spearman's rank = 0.69). These findings suggest that altered meiotic and post-meiotic germ cell maturation might be associated with an up-regulation of Fas gene expression capable of triggering apoptotic elimination of defective germ cells.
apoptosis/Fas/immunohistochemistry/spermatogenesis/ultrastructure
4 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Internal Medicine, Andrology Unit, University of L'Aquila,Via S. Sisto 22E, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy. E-mail: Sandrof{at}univaq.it
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