Expression of inhibin α, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and stem cell factor in Sertoli cell-only syndrome: Relation to successful sperm retrieval by microdissection testicular sperm extraction

Abstract

Background: Microdissection testicular sperm extraction (TESE) has provided new hope for successful sperm retrieval to patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCO). We determined expression of the inhibin α subunit, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and stem cell factor (SCF) in Sertoli cells obtained from patients with SCO immunohistochemically and compared expression rates with rates of microdissection TESE sperm retrieval. Methods: Testicular biopsy specimens were obtained from 52 men with non-obstructive azoospermia who underwent microdissection TESE and were diagnosed with SCO by histological analysis. Results: All specimens showed intense staining for the inhibin α subunit. Moderate or intense staining for GDNF was observed in 65.8% of specimens. All but one showed moderate or intense staining for SCF. Among specimens negative for GDNF, the sperm retrieval rate was significantly higher (100%) for specimens with intense staining for SCF than for specimens with no or moderate staining (30.7%) (P<0.05) for SCF. Conclusions: GDNF expression differs among patients with SCO. The sperm retrieval rate was high in cases of no staining for GDNF and intense staining for SCF. © The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved.