New approaches in male infertility diagnosis: examination of biopsy material from testicle with normal and disturbed spermatogenesis

Testicle biopsy is still the most important and conclusive stage of male infertility diagnosis in the presence of azoospermia. Applying new advanced techniques of histological analysis allows us to evaluate spermatogenesis disturbance from a new angle. As a result there is a need for new seminiferous tubules signification that should use data from immune histochemical tests and be based on their phenotypic characteristics. Besides, adopted in the 1970s outdated criteria for spermatogenesis disturbance evaluation also have to be revised. As follows from the conducted study, following classes of seminiferous epithelium should be considered: a) normal spermatogenesis; b) hypospermatogenesis; c) meiotic block to spermatogenesis; d) spermatogonial (focal case of SCO-syndrome); e) SCO-syndrome; f) tubular atrophy. Available from the tests data on spermatogenesis condition will be helpful in appropriate idiopathic male infertility treatment planning and in choosing the optimal assisted reproductive technology (TESE, MD-TESE, MESE, PESA, ICSI, IVF).