Relationship between germinal cells function and dynamics of FSH secretion.

Tubular histology was correlated to FSH levels assayed under basal conditions (8 cases) or in response to Gn-RH (24 cases) in 32 infertile males, in whom a testicular biopsy was indicated as part of the work-up. A good correlation was found between number of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes and levels of FSH, under basal conditions or, even more, in response to Gn-RH; correlation was less close with respect to spermatids 1 and 2 and nonexistent with respect to Serotoli cells. In spite of those findings, when taking into account only mean counts of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes, some overlapping of values in individual cases still existed. On the other hand, when correcting the above perameters for tubular diameter and number of tubules per LPF, a much closer correlation between parameters of tubular function and dynamics of FSH regulation was obtained; the overlapping of values was found only in 1 out of 32 cases.