Testicular tissue histology in rabbit testes after transparenchymal suturing with six different types of suture material.

AIM: Our aim was to investigate the changes in testicular tissue histology associated with six different types of commonly used suture material. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one adult male New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to seven groups of three animals each: sham-operated controls; polyglyconate suture; chromic catgut suture; polypropylene suture; polyglactin-910 suture; silk suture; and poliglecaprone-25 suture. All the materials tested were 6-0 caliber. In each suture-group rabbit, bilateral vertical paramedian incisions were made in the scrotal skin. Three interrupted transparenchymal sutures were then passed through the upper pole, middle, and lower pole of each testis and then fixed to the tunica albuginea using small tapered atraumatic needles. The control group underwent the same procedures but the needle was passed without suture attached. Bilateral orchiectomies were performed 30 days after suture placement, and the tissues were histologically scored. The parameters evaluated were the numbers of foreign-body giant cells and the proportion of the area that histiocytes infiltrated nearby the suture material; severity of fibrosis in the surrounding tissue; the proportion of tubules affected by the material; and spermatogenetic activity in the seminiferous tubules surrounding the suture material. RESULTS: The control tissues showed no inflammatory reaction and no changes in spermatogenesis. All tissue samples from all suture groups showed foreign-body reaction. In addition, all the suture-group specimens exhibited reduced spermatogenesis. Polypropylene suture had highest numbers of tubules with normal spermatogenesis and lowest numbers of maturation arrest. CONCLUSION: All the suture materials had a negative impact on spermatogenesis. Polypropylene suture caused less reaction and damage than the other five materials tested.

Natural transmission of AZFb Y-chromosomal microdeletion from father to his three sons.

Microdeletions of the so-called azoospermia factor (AZF) locus of the Y chromosome long arm (Yq) are an etiological factor of severe oligozoospermia or azoospermia. Patients affected are infertile unless assisted reproductive techniques are used. We report the case of an azoospermic patient (proband) and three brothers who inherited a Yq microdeletion from their father through a spontaneous pregnancy. Leukocyte DNA was extracted using a commercially available kit. A total of 15 pairs of sequence-tagged site (STSs) based primers, spanning the AZFa, b and c regions, were used for screening. All brothers and their father carried a Yq microdeletion of the AZFb subregion where the RNA-binding motif (RBM) gene is located. The proband carried additional deletions of the AZFa and AZFb subregions. RBM deletion can be associated with oligozoospermia allowing natural conception and therefore natural transmission of this genetic anomaly.