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Effects of Elevated β-Estradiol Levels on the Functional Morphology of the Testis - New Insights.

  • Leavy M School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin, Ireland.
  • Trottmann M Department of Urology, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Germany.
  • Liedl B Department of Urogenital Surgery, Clinics for Surgery Munich-Bogenhausen, Munich, Germany.
  • Reese S Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Munich, Germany.
  • Stief C Department of Urology, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Germany.
  • Freitag B Department of Urology, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Germany.
  • Baugh J School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin, Ireland.
  • Spagnoli G Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
  • Kölle S School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin, Ireland.
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  • 2017-01-04
Published in:
  • Scientific reports. - 2017
Adult
Collagen
Estradiol
Estrogen Receptor alpha
Extracellular Matrix
Female
Glycoproteins
Humans
Leydig Cells
Male
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Middle Aged
Sertoli Cells
Spermatogenesis
Testis
Transsexualism
English Elevated estradiol levels are correlated with male infertility. Causes of hyperestrogenism include diseases of the adrenal cortex, testis or medications affecting the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. The aim of our study was to elucidate the effects of estradiol treatment on testicular cellular morphology and function, with reference to the treatment regimen received. Testes samples (n = 9) were obtained post-orchiectomy from male-to-female transsexuals within the age range of 26-52 years. Each patient had a minimum of 1-6 years estradiol treatment. For comparison, additional samples were obtained from microscopically unaltered testicular tissue surrounding tumors (n = 7). The tissues obtained were investigated by stereomicroscopy, histochemistry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and immunohistochemistry. Our studies revealed that estradiol treatment significantly decreased the diameter of the seminiferous tubules (p < 0.05) and induced fatty degeneration in the surrounding connective tissue. An increase in collagen fiber synthesis in the extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding the seminiferous tubules was also induced. Spermatogenesis was impaired resulting in mainly spermatogonia being present. Sertoli cells revealed diminished expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). Both Sertoli and Leydig cells showed morphological alterations and glycoprotein accumulations. These results demonstrate that increased estradiol levels drastically impact the human testis.
Language
  • English
Open access status
gold
Identifiers
Persistent URL
https://folia.unifr.ch/global/documents/53546
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