Sertoli Cell-only Syndrome
What is Sertoli Cell-only Syndrome?
Sertoli cell-only syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by male sterility without sexual abnormality due to the absence of seminiferous tubules in the testes of germinal epithelium, while Sertoli cells are present.
Last updated 30 Jan 2011, 04:56 PM
30 Jan 2011, 04:56 PM
Gat Y, Gornish M, Perlow A, Chakraborty J, Levinger U, Ben-Shlomo I, Pasqualotto F. Andrology-Interventional Radiology Maynei Hayeshua Medical Center and Sub-Micron Research Department ofCondensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.Yigal.Gat@weizmann.ac.il Erratum in: • Andrologia. 2011 Feb;43(1):85. Abstract Sertoli-cell-only (SCO) syndrome, or germ cell aplasia, is diagnosed on testicular biopsy when germ cells are seen to be absent without histological impairment of Sertoli or Leydig cells. It is considered a situation of irreversible infertility. Recent studies have shown that varicocele, a bilateral disease, causes hypoxia in the testicular microcirculation. Destruction of one-way valves in the internal spermatic veins (ISV) elevates hydrostatic pressure in the testicular venules, exceeding the pressure in the arteriolar system. The positive pressure gradient between arterial and venous system is reversed, causing hypoxia in the sperm production site. Sperm production deteriorates gradually, progressing to azoospermia. Our prediction was that, if genetic problems are excluded, SCO may be the final stage of longstanding hypoxia which deteriorates sperm production in a progressive process over time. This would indicate that SCO is not always an independent disease entity, but may represent deterioration of the testicular parenchyma beyond azoospermia. Our prediction is confirmed by histology of the seminiferous tubules demonstrating that SCO is associated with extensive degenerative ischaemic changes and destruction of the normal architecture of the sperm production site. Adequate treatment of bilateral varicocele by microsurgery or by selective sclerotherapy of the ISV resumes, at least partially, the flow of oxygenated blood to the sperm production site and restored sperm production in 4 out of 10 patients. Based on our findings the following statements can be made: (i) SCO may be related in part of the cases to persistent, longstanding testicular parenchymal hypoxia; (ii) germ cells may still exist in other areas of the testicular parenchyma; and (iii) if genetic problems are excluded, adequate correction of the hypoxia may restore very limited sperm production in some patients.
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Visit sanfordresearch.org/CoRDS to enroll.
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Azoospermia and Sertoli-cell-only syndrome: hypoxia in the sperm production site due to impairment in venous drainage of male reproductive system.
Created by sertoli | Last updated 30 Jan 2011, 04:56 PM
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