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Changes in the small blood vessels of the adult human testis in relation to age and to some pathological conditions

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Summary

A total of 91 postmortem fresh human autopsy testes were examined, using microangiography and histology. Histologically 70 of them were classified as normal. Incomplete spermatogenic arrest was found in 5 testes; 10 testes showed progressive tubular fibrosis and 6 were completely hyalinized. In general, the microvascular architecture remained stationary during the whole adult life. The intratesticular end arteries had a peculiar spiralling course irrespective of the age of the subject. Focal hyalinization of tubules was seen in 56% of the normal testes, becoming more common with increasing age. These regions showed fewer capillaries both in microangiography and in histology. Thickening of the intratesticular arterial walls was found histologically in 59% of the normal testes, in 90% of the testes showing progressive tubular fibrosis and in all totally hyalinized testes. Testes with totally hyalinized tubules showed severe vascular changes in both microangiography and histology. It is suggested that vascular alterations play a part in the pathogenesis of testicular fibrosis.

Zusammenfassung

Insgesamt 91 postmortem Hoden wurden histologisch und mikroangiographisch untersucht. 70 Hoden wurden als normal klassifiziert. Unvollständige Spermiogenese-Hemmung wurde in 5 Hoden gefunden, in 10 Fällen war eine progressive Fibrose der Tubuli zu finden und 6 Hoden waren total atrophisch. Hauptsächlich die mikrovasculäre Architektur bleibt das ganze postpubertale Leben hindurch konstant, und die Spiralisierung der intratesticularen End-Arterien ist unabhängig vom Alter. Herdförmige hyaline Umwandlungen wurden in 56% der normalen Hoden gefunden. Die Frequenz dieser Umwandlungen nimmt mit steigendem Alter zu. In diesen fibrosierten Herden waren weniger Capillaren sowohl histologisch als mikroangiographisch erkennbar. Arterielle Wandveränderungen wurden in 59% von normalen, in 90% von Hoden, die progressive Fibrose der Tubuli aufwiesen, und in allen total atrophischen Hoden gefunden. Sowohl mikroangiographisch als histologisch waren die Arterienveränderungen in der letztgenannten Gruppe erheblich. Die Befunde lassen darauf schließen, daß die vasculären Veränderungen eine besondere Rolle bei der Fibrosierung des Hodens spielen.

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Suoranta, H. Changes in the small blood vessels of the adult human testis in relation to age and to some pathological conditions. Virchows Arch. Abt. A Path. Anat. 352, 165–181 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00548374

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