A Comparative Investigation Applying Testicular Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology and Open Testicular Biopsy Histology for the Diagnosis of Azoospermia and Severe Oligospermia

Open testicular biopsy histology and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) are the most popular tests used to diagnose male infertility. This study aimed to assess the cytological characteristics of 186 infertile males aged 24-63 with testicular FNAC. Furthermore, the existing relationship between males with severe oligospermia (sperm count: 5 million/ml) and azoospermia was investigated via both cytological and histological diagnosis methods. With a 1.5-inch and 25-gauge needle, the testis was aspirated from three locations (the upper, middle, and lower poles). Papanicolaou stain or Giemsa stain was used to make smears on albumenized slides, which were then dried in the air and stained. A biopsy of the testicles was performed there, preserved in Bouins solution, processed as usual, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain. According to our findings, 66.7% of patients had secondary maturation arrest, whereas 18.3% and 15.1% of them had hypospermatogenesis and Sertoli cell only (SCO). Results of the comparison showed that both procedures were very similar. According to biopsy histological examinations, only 3 (1.6%) of the 28 normal FNAC instances had hypospermatogenesis with lymphocyte infiltration. The majority of SCO patients were over 50 years old. These findings revealed that FNAC is more effective than testicular histology for the assessment of male infertility.

Association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the PYGO2 and PRDM9 Genes with Idiopathic Azoospermia in Iranian Infertile Male Patients

Background

Azoospermia is a risk factor for infertility affecting approximately 1% of the male population. Genetic factors are associated with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). Pygo2 and PRDM9 genes are involved in the spermatogenesis process. The present study aimed to assess the association of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the Pygo2 (rs61758740 and rs61758741) and PRDM9 (rs2973631 and rs1874165) genes with idiopathic azoospermia (IA).

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2018 to August 2019 at Rooya Infertility Centre (Qom, Iran). A total of 100 infertile patients with NOA and 100 men with normal fertility were enrolled in the study. Tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-PCR method was used to detect SNPs rs61758740, rs61758741, and rs2973631. The restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used for SNP rs1874165. In addition, luteinizing, follicle-stimulating, and testosterone hormone levels were measured.

Results

The results showed a significant increase in luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormone levels in the patient group (P<0.001), but a non-significant difference in testosterone levels in both groups. SNP rs61758740 (T>C) was associated with the increased risk of azoospermia (OR: 2.359, 95% Cl: 1.192-4.666, P=0.012). SNP rs2973631 showed a significant difference in genotype frequency between the patient and control groups in the dominant, recessive, and codominant models. However, in the case of SNP rs1874165, the difference was significant in the dominant, codominant, and overdominant models.

Conclusion

There is an association between azoospermia and SNPs in Pygo2 and PRDM9 genes in Iranian infertile male patients with IA. SNPs can be considered a risk factor for male infertility. It should be noted that this article was published in preprint form on the website of europepmc (https://europepmc.org/article/ppr/ppr416800).

Comparison of intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes in azoospermic men who underwent testicular sperm extraction vs. microdissection testicular sperm extraction: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be different in azoospermic men who undergo testicular sperm extraction (TESE) vs. microdissection-TESE (micro-TESE).

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to compare the ICSI outcomes in men who underwent TESE vs. micro-TESE due to obstructive azoospermia and nonobstructive azoospermia, respectively.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of310azoospermic men who underwent ICSI from September 2016 to September 2020 were enrolled in this cross-sectional study and divided into two groups (172 cases in the TESE and 138 cases in the micro-TESE group). The paternal and maternal age, and the fertilization, biochemical pregnancy, abortion and live birth rates were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Maternal mean age was significantly higher in the TESE group (34.9 ± 4.2 yr vs. 32.3 ± 5.7 yr). The fertilization and biochemical pregnancy rates were significantly higher in the TESE group, but the abortion rate was similar in the two groups. The live birth rate was higher in the TESE group, but this difference was not significant (p = 0.06). Also, the maternal and paternal age did not affect ICSI outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Individuals who underwent TESE had higher fertilization and biochemical pregnancy rates than those who underwent micro-TESE, but the live birth rate was not significantly different.