Long-term cultures of testicular biopsies from boys with cryptorchidism: effect of FSH and LH on the number of germ cells.

BACKGROUND

A long-term culture system of testicular biopsies from boys with undescended testes was established to evaluate the effect of gonadotrophins on germ cell survival and growth.

METHODS

Biopsies from 25 boys with cryptorchidism, aged 1.1-9.9 years, were obtained at the time of surgery. Each biopsy was subdivided into fragments and cultured for 1 or 3 weeks in a testis culture medium without gonadotrophins or supplemented with FSH (50 IU/l) or LH (5 IU/l), or a combination of FSH (50 IU/l) plus LH (5 IU/l). The survival of the germ cells was evaluated by calculating the ratio of spermatogonia and gonocytes per cross-sectioned testicular tubule, the S/T ratio.

RESULTS

All cultured fragments maintained their overall morphology. A significantly reduced S/T ratio was observed in the fragments cultured in the presence of LH (P = 0.006), independently of the culture period. The mean tubular diameter in fragments cultured for 1 week with hormones was significantly larger than that of the controls (P < 0.0002). All cultured fragments had a larger tubular diameter than the uncultured fragments (P = 0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS

This culture system supports survival of spermatogonia for at least 3 weeks. LH either alone or in combination with FSH results in a significantly reduced S/T ratio.