Evaluation on Changes of Testicular Histology in Aging Men

ObjectiveTo evaluate the changes of testicular histology in aging men.MethodsTesticular tissues were obtained by orchiectomy from 40 aging men (75.9 ± 3.8 years) with advanced prostate cancers (aging group). Control group comprised 20 testicular tissue samples obtained by biopsy from young men with obstructive azoospermia (33.7 ± 4.9 years) who underwent assisted reproductive treatment. Hematoxylin and eosin were used to stain the sections for observation of histology. Changes of seminiferous tubules and interstitial compartment were observed.ResultsIn aging group, vacuolation of seminiferous epithelium was a common phenomenon and the incidence was 85%. Ten samples had moderate spermatogenesis. Thirty cases showed hypospermatogenesis or germ cell arrest, even absence of spermatogenesis. In samples with germ cell arrest, seminiferous epithelia had only the layer of spermatogonia. Twenty-three cases had the heterogeneity of spermatogenesis. In interstitial compartment, pathological changes included loose connection and Leydig cells aggregations and reduce. In the control, most samples demonstrated a normal spermatogenesis.ConclusionPathological changes occurred in aging testis were associated with degenerative alterations on both the seminiferous epithelium and the interstitial compartment, which contribute to lowering testis functions.