Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “testis”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,081 records · Page 60Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Laparoscopic assessment and treatment of non-palpable testis in an 18-year-old male.

Laparoscopy, both diagnostic and therapeutic, has been used in the management of pediatric non-palpable testes. We report a case of left non-palpable testis at the unusual age of 18 years. Laparoscopic exploration revealed an intra-abdominal testis lying between the internal inguinal ring and external iliac vessels. The testis was visually in good condition and, in contrast to the accepted procedure of orchiectomy performed in late adolescent cryptorchidism, we decided to preserve this intra-abdominal testis, which was located too far from the scrotum for a primary orchidopexy. The first stage of the Fowler-Stephens procedure was performed laparoscopically. The second-stage orchidopexy was performed successfully through an inguinal approach 3 months later, after sonographic ascertainment of non-decreased testicular volume. Laparoscopy allows thorough exploration for an intra-abdominal testis, with simultaneous therapeutic options. Our experience highlights the feasibility of laparoscopic assessment and treatment of cryptorchidism in adolescents and young adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Heat shock protein expression in testis and bladder cancer cell lines exhibiting differential sensitivity to heat.

Testis cancer cells are more sensitive than bladder and most other cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs both in the clinic and in vitro. In this study we show that they are also more sensitive than bladder cancer cells to heat. Since heat and drug sensitivity may be related to the ability of a cell to mount a stress response, constitutive and induced levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in three testis and three bladder human cancer cell lines were measured using Western blotting and scanning densitometry. No correlation between constitutive levels of HSP 90 or HSP 73/72 and cellular heat sensitivity was found. However, HSP 27 levels were much lower in the testis tumour cells, suggesting that low HSP 27 expression might contribute to heat sensitivity. Protein synthesis studies using [35S]methionine indicated that, for the same heat shocks, the kinetics of synthesis and decay of HSP 90 and HSP 73/72 in 833K (the most heat sensitive testis cells) was similar to or greater than that in HT1376 (the most heat-resistant bladder cells). Both 833K and HT1376 developed thermotolerance, and this followed an increase in synthesis of HSPs. These results indicate that, although there are differences in the constitutive levels of HSPs between testis and bladder cancer cells, both cell types are capable of mounting an induced heat shock response and can develop a similar degree of thermotolerance.

Cell Survival↗
PubMed2005

Sex cord-stromal tumors of the ovary and testis: their similarities and differences with consideration of selected problems.

Gonadal sex cord-stromal tumors contain some of the most morphologically interesting neoplasms of the gonads and these lead to many important issues in differential diagnosis. The pathology of these tumors is reviewed with emphasis on new information, similarities and differences in the two gonads, and diagnostic problems. Sertoli cell tumors occur in both gonads being more common in the testis where they usually exhibit a lobular pattern of hollow or solid tubules. In the ovary, tubular differentiation is usually the predominant feature but the lobulation typically seen in the testis is generally not as striking. One variant of Sertoli cell tumor, the large cell calcifying form, appears to be restricted to the male gonad and in contrast to other sex cord tumors is much more frequently bilateral and is associated in many cases with unusual clinical manifestations. In both sexes, patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome often have distinctive gonadal pathology. In females, it is in the form of the sex cord with annular tubules whereas in males, the lesion has features that are often intermediate between those of a sex cord tumor with annular tubules and a large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor. Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors are more morphologically diverse than pure Sertoli cell tumors and for practical purposes are an issue only in ovarian pathology being exceptionally rare in the testis. The classification proposed by Meyer into well, intermediate, and poor differentiation, remains important prognostically. More recently, heterologous and retiform differentiation has been described. Heterologous tumors most often contain mucinous epithelium, sometimes with small foci of carcinoid or less commonly, and generally in poorly differentiated neoplasms, rhabdomyosarcoma or fetal-type cartilage. Such tumors should be distinguished from pure sarcomas and teratomas. The retiform neoplasms, which tend to occur in young females, may mimic serous borderline tumors or even serous carcinomas. Granulosa cell tumors are much more common in females and in both gonads are divided into adult and juvenile forms. In females, granulosa cell tumors and other sex cord tumors may have markedly bizarre nuclei potentially leading to overdiagnosis as more malignant neoplasms. The juvenile granulosa cell tumor of the testis tends to occur in the first 6 months of life and should be carefully distinguished from the yolk sac tumor of the testis, which usually occurs in a slightly older age group. Occasional sex cord-stromal tumors cannot be readily categorized into the Sertoli or granulosa families and are diagnosed as sex cord-stromal tumors unclassified. In females, this is a relatively common placement for a neoplasm in a pregnant patient. Unclassified tumors are overall more common in males and may entrap residual normal germ cells potentially leading to the erroneous placement of the tumor in the category of a mixed germ cell sex cord-stromal tumor. From the practical viewpoint, the most helpful immunohistochemical findings are the negative staining of sex cord tumors for epithelial membrane antigen, and positive staining for inhibin and calretinin, findings that are converse to those seen in endometrioid carcinomas of the ovary, which commonly have formations that simulate sex cord tumors.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1995

Widespread expression of the testis-determining gene SRY in a marsupial.

There is compelling evidence from mutation analysis and transgenesis that the SRY gene isolated from human and mouse encodes the testis-determining factor on the mammalian Y chromosome. However, how SRY achieves this function is unclear. Although marsupials have been separated from eutherian mammals for approximately 100 million years, homologues of SRY have been localised to the Y chromosome of two unrelated marsupial species, the tammar wallaby and the Darling Downs dunnart. Gonadal development is fundamentally similar in eutherian and marsupial mammals, but the timing of morphological events is different. Fetal Sry transcripts are confined to somatic cells of the male mouse genital ridge between 10.5-12.5 days post coitum, corresponding with the onset of testis differentiation. Analysis of Sry gene expression in the genital ridge of normal and germ cell-deficient fetal mice has established that this gene acts in the somatic cell lineage, and is presumed to induce the formation of Sertoli cells. This assumption can be tested more critically in the tammar, where the equivalent stages of testis differentiation are observed over a 7-day period. We have examined the relationship of SRY expression to testis differentiation in the tammar wallaby. We show the marsupial SRY gene cannot be exclusively coupled to Sertoli cell differentiation, as this gene is expressed in the male fetus from several days before genital ridge formation until 40 days after birth. SRY transcripts are also present in a variety of extra-gonadal tissues in the developing young and adult male, a pattern of SRY expression similar to that observed in humans. These data indicate that, in addition to a role in testis determination, SRY may have other functions [corrected].

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Laparoscopy in the management of the impalpable undescended testis.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the role of laparoscopy for managing the intra-abdominal testis. METHODS: Over 30 months, 48 children (six with previous groin explorations) underwent laparoscopy for a unilateral impalpable undescended testis. The patients' age ranged from 1 to 9 years. RESULTS: Eleven children required insertion of 'working ports' for mobilization of obscuring colon before the diagnosis could be established. Twenty-eight children had an absent testis. In nine, vas and vessels entered the internal ring. In 19, vas and vessels ended blindly above the internal ring. Twenty children had an intra-abdominal testis. Ten underwent a laparoscopic single-stage orchidopexy (eight without and two with ligation of vessels); at a minimum follow-up of 2 years, one testis in this group had atrophied, three were located in the lower half of the scrotum and six in the upper half. The remaining ten children underwent a laparoscopic two-stage Fowler-Stephens operation. At a minimum follow-up of 6 months, eight of these testes were palpable in the lower half and two in the upper half of the scrotum. CONCLUSION In the majority of cases, laparoscopy obviates the need for groin exploration. Technically a first-stage Fowler-Stephens procedure can be performed easily and effectively via the laparoscope. However, the second-stage Fowler-Stephens procedure or single-stage orchidopexy requires laparoscopic skills and may not necessarily provide sufficient length to the testicular attachment.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1994

Laparoscopy and impalpable testis--a prospective multicentric study (232 cases). GECI. Groupe d'Etude en Coeliochirurgie Infantile.

The value of laparoscopy in managing the impalpable testis remains controversial. Several reports have been published on this topic but series are usually short and rather heterogeneous in their presentation, so that critical analysis is not easy to perform. Therefore, the Groupe d'Etude en Coeliochirurgie Infantile started a multicentric prospective study in May 1991 with two objectives: what are the laparoscopic findings and what are the correlations between laparoscopy and surgery? In addition, this study tried to estimate the therapeutic implications. Two hundred and one boys underwent laparoscopy accounting for two hundred and thirty-two impalpable testis. Laparoscopic findings were mainly of three types: intra-abdominal testis (36%), abdominal blind ending cord structures (14%) and cord structures entering the deep inguinal ring (49%); rarely, there was absence of testis and cord structures (1%). Crossed testicular ectopia was not found in this series. One hundred and eighty-seven impalpable testis were operated on to control laparoscopic findings and correlations laparoscopy-surgery were excellent provided that laparoscopic exploration could be entirely performed in good conditions. Moreover, it could be evaluated that forty-seven per cent of impalpable testes could take advantage of laparoscopy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Increased apoptosis occurring during the first wave of spermatogenesis is stage-specific and primarily affects midpachytene spermatocytes in the rat testis.

The physiological apoptosis that occurs in immature testis appears to be necessary for the maturation of this tissue. Thus, inhibition of the early apoptotic wave associated with the first round of spermatogenesis is followed by accumulation of spermatogonia and infertility later in life. To identify the cell types undergoing apoptosis in immature rat testis and to characterize the relationship between this apoptosis and progression of the first wave of spermatogenesis, sequential viable segments of seminiferous tubules from 8-, 18-, and 26-day-old rats were examined under a phase-contrast microscope. One novel observation was the existence of pronounced stage-specificity during the peak of apoptosis at the very early postnatal ages of 18 and 26 days. Increased apoptosis of pachytene spermatocytes in stages VII-VIII was the major feature that distinguished immature spermatogenesis from the corresponding adult process. The frequency of apoptosis among type A spermatogonia in immature stages IX-I was also elevated in comparison to the corresponding mature stages. The age-related peak of apoptosis was mediated by caspase 3; furthermore, stage-dependent expression of Bax in midpachytene spermatocytes was observed in the 18- and 26-day-old testis. These observations suggest that this Bax-regulated, caspase 3-mediated, increased apoptosis of midpachytene spermatocytes during the first wave of immature spermatogenesis represents a major difference in comparison to apoptosis occurring in the mature testis, and it may play an important regulatory role in establishing spermatogenesis in the rat testis.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Regulation of Sertoli-germ cell adherens junction dynamics in the testis via the nitric oxide synthase (NOS)/cGMP/protein kinase G (PRKG)/beta-catenin (CATNB) signaling pathway: an in vitro and in vivo study.

During spermatogenesis, extensive restructuring of cell junctions takes place in the seminiferous epithelium to facilitate germ cell movement. However, the mechanism that regulates this event remains largely unknown. Recent studies have shown that nitric oxide (NO) likely regulates tight junction (TJ) dynamics in the testis via the cGMP/protein kinase G (cGMP-dependent protein kinase, PRKG) signaling pathway. Due to the proximity of TJ and adherens junctions (AJ) in the testis, in particular at the blood-testis barrier, it is of interest to investigate if NO can affect AJ dynamics. Studies using Sertoli-germ cell cocultures in vitro have shown that the levels of NOS (nitric oxide synthase), cGMP, and PRKG were induced when anchoring junctions were being established. Using an in vivo model in which adult rats were treated with adjudin [a molecule that induces adherens junction disruption, formerly called AF-2364, 1-(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)-IH-indazole-3-carbohydrazide], the event of AJ disruption was also associated with a transient iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase, NOS2) induction. Immunohistochemistry has illustrated that NOS2 was intensely accumulated in Sertoli and germ cells in the epithelium during adjudin-induced germ cell loss, with a concomitant accumulation of intracellular cGMP and an induction of PRKG but not cAMP or protein kinase A (cAMP-dependent protein kinase, PRKA). To identify the NOS-mediated downstream signaling partners, coimmunoprecipitation was used to demonstrate that NOS2 and eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase, NOS3) were structurally associated with the N-cadherin (CDH2)/beta-catenin (CATNB)/actin complex but not the nectin-3 (poliovirus receptor-related 3, PVRL 3)/afadin (myeloid/lymphoid or mixed lineage-leukemia tranlocation to 4 homolog, MLLT4) nor the integrin beta1 (ITB1)-mediated protein complexes, illustrating the spatial vicinity of NOS with selected AJ-protein complexes. Interestingly, CDH2 and CATNB were shown to dissociate from NOS during the adjudin-mediated AJ disruption, implicating the CDH2/CATNB protein complex is the likely downstream target of the NO signaling. Furthermore, PRKG, the downstream signaling protein of NOS, was shown to interact with CATNB in the rat testis. Perhaps the most important of all, pretreatment of testes with KT5823, a specific PRKG inhibitor, can indeed delay the adjudin-induced germ cell loss, further validating NOS/NO regulates Sertoli-germ cell AJ dynamics via the cGMP/PRKG pathway. These results illustrate that the CDH2/CATNB-mediated adhesion function in the testis is regulated, at least in part, via the NOS/cGMP/PRKG/CATNB pathway.

Adherens Junctions↗
PubMed1996

Reappraisal of the role of human chorionic gonadotropin in the diagnosis and treatment of the nonpalpable testis: a 10-year experience.

PURPOSE: We retrospectively evaluated the ability of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) to make the nonpalpable cryptorchid testis become palpable and promote testicular descent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Through surgical bookings we identified 94 patients younger than 11 years who received HCG between 1984 and 1994 for the diagnosis or treatment of a nonpalpable undescended testis. The dose of HCG was 1,500 IU/m.2 intramuscularly 2 times weekly for 4 weeks. Testis location was determined by physical examination before and after hormone administration, and confirmed at surgical exploration. RESULTS: Of the 99 nonpalpable testes identified in 94 patients 39 (39%) became palpable following HCG administration and only 2 (2%) completely descended. A total of 60 testes remained nonpalpable with the most common reason being an absent or severely atrophic testis (40, 67%). Of the testes remaining nonpalpable after hormonal stimulation 73% were surgically located at or distal to the internal ring. CONCLUSIONS: HCG is preoperatively efficacious in causing the nonpalpable undescended testis to become palpable. For patients failing to respond to hormonal stimulation we recommend preliminary inguinal exploration, since most testes or testicular remnants are located within the inguinal canal or immediately below the internal ring.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Desmoplastic melanoma: comparison of expression of differentiation antigens and cancer testis antigens.

Desmoplastic melanoma is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Immunohistochemical analysis with antibodies to melanoma antigens can complement morphologic evaluation. Although staining for S100 protein is generally positive, staining for other melanoma differentiation antigens, particularly gp100, Melan-A/MART1 and tyrosinase, is often negative despite being commonly positive in other melanoma types. A high clinical index of suspicion and better diagnostic techniques are essential as atypical features and incorrect diagnosis can lead to poor clinical outcomes. Antigens associated with melanoma, such as the melanocyte differentiation and cancer testis antigen, may become important targets for immune therapies. We characterized the patterns of antigen expression of desmoplastic melanoma from 32 patients, including gp100, Melan-A/MART-1, tyrosinase, MAGE-A1, MAGE-A4 and NY-ESO-1. Consistent positive staining with S100 was observed. Differentiation antigens were expressed more frequently than cancer testis antigens regardless of the histological subtype of desmoplastic melanoma. When present, cancer testis antigen expression correlated to positive staining with differentiation antigens. The diagnostic yield of desmoplastic melanoma did not increase with the addition of cancer testis antigen typing. Low levels of expression of cancer testis antigen may indicate that they are suboptimal targets for vaccine development in desmoplastic melanoma.

Antigens, Differentiation↗
PubMed1987

Screening for carcinoma-in-situ of the testis.

Germ cell neoplasia detected at the preinvasive stage of carcinoma-in-situ (CIS) can be cured by orchidectomy or by localized irradiation of the testis. Therefore, screening for carcinoma-in-situ of the testis has been applied to groups of individuals known to have an increased risk of testicular cancer. A high (5.5%) incidence of CIS was found in the contralateral testis of men with a unilateral cancer of the testis. An increased incidence of CIS was also found among men with a history of cryptorchidism. We recommend routine screening for CIS of the testis in both groups of men. The role of screening for CIS among subfertile men remains to be elucidated.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1997

Cloning and characterization of a testis-specific, developmentally regulated A-kinase-anchoring protein (TAKAP-80) present on the fibrous sheath of rat sperm.

cAMP is important for the initiation of mammalian sperm motility. Previously we established that a type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase is tightly associated with the fibrous sheath of rat sperm. This unique cytoskeletal structure surrounds the 9+2 axonemal network in the principal piece of the flagellum. Association of the kinase to the fibrous sheath is mediated via its regulatory subunit, RII. An RII-binding overlay procedure was used to document that RII could specifically associate with fibrous sheath polypeptides of 120 and 80 kDa. In this study, we report the cloning of a rat testis-specific, developmentally regulated, RII-binding protein (TAKAP-80). A 1.2-kb cDNA clone, isolated by screening a rat testis expression library with 32P-labeled RII, hybridized to a 1.8-kb mRNA transcript present exclusively in testis. This transcript appeared at detectable levels at 30 days after birth. Over the next 10 days the mRNA levels increased greatly. This time interval corresponds to the initiation of spermiogenesis. The complete nucleotide sequence of TAKAP-80 cDNA was obtained by polymerase chain reaction and contained a continuous open reading frame of 502 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence showed a clear demarcation of charged and hydrophobic amino acid residues. Amino acids 1-147 of the protein contained 45% charged residues, with lysine and arginine predominating. Similarly, amino acids 268-502 also contained a high percentage of charged amino acids (35%). In contrast, amino acids 148-267 were mostly hydrophobic and contained clusters of a repeating PXXP motif where X was predominantly valine and alanine or sometimes proline. The 1.2-kb cDNA clone was inserted into the pRSET vector and expressed as a His6 tag fusion protein in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was soluble and bound RIIalpha, RIIbeta and type IIalpha holoenzyme by the RII-binding overlay procedure. Deletion analysis revealed that the high-affinity interaction site for RII was contained within amino acids 258-378 of TAKAP-80. Antibodies prepared against the fusion protein recognized an 80-kDa protein present in the urea-insoluble particulate fraction of rat testis and in purified fibrous sheath preparations isolated from rat epididymal sperm. Levels of the 80-kDa immunoreactive protein were significantly higher in mature (60 days old) compared with immature (30 days old) rat testis, correlating with the mRNA levels.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Combined real time PCR and immunohistochemical evaluation of sperm protein 17 as a cancer-testis antigen.

We previously identified sperm protein 17 (Sp17) as a normal testicular protein aberrantly expressed in a proportion of multiple myeloma (MM). However, recent studies have generated controversies on the normal tissue expression of Sp17 and whether or not it is a suitable target for immunotherapy. In this study, we have used a combination of real time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry on a large panel of normal tissues. Although Sp17 transcripts could be detected in some normal tissues, the levels of expression were <2% of those in normal testis. In contrast, Sp17+ myeloma cells expressed 3-18% of normal testis levels of Sp17 transcript. Immunohistochemistry using two Sp17 murine monoclonal antibodies, each directed at a non-overlapping B-cell epitope, showed Sp17 protein to be expressed only in testis and not any other normal tissues. Specificity of binding of the antibodies to testis was also confirmed in competitive binding assays. Our results therefore further suggest Sp17 as a cancer-testis antigen in MM and support its suitability as a target for immunotherapy.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Involvement of calpain for apoptosis in dysfunction of the unaffected testis in rats with experimental testicular torsion.

PROBLEM: The dynamics of calpain and involvement of apoptosis in sperm formation disorder of the unaffected testis in rats with experimental testicular torsion were investigated. METHODS OF STUDY: Using 6-week-old Wistar rats, an experimental unilateral testicular torsion model was prepared. The bilateral testes were excised 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 35, and 70 days after the left testis was twisted, and the unaffected testes were subjected to immunohistological staining, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting using anti-calpain antibodies. Apoptosis was detected by the TdT-mediated dUTP biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method. RESULTS: By immunohistological staining, positive immunostaining by anti-pro mu-calpain antibody was observed in the spermatocyte nucleus, but not with anti-pro m-calpain antibody. The staining was increased until 7 days after testicular torsion, then decreased with progression of sperm formation disorder. By Western blotting, the intensity of staining with anti-pro mu-calpain antibody was increased until 7 days after torsion of the testis. Apoptosis expression in the unaffected testis was significantly inhibited by addition of a calpain inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: It was suggested that mu-calpain may be involved in apoptosis expression in sperm formation disorder of the unaffected testis in unilateral testicular torsion.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Screening for carcinoma in situ of the contralateral testis in patients with germinal testicular cancer.

Two hundred and fifty biopsy specimens from the contralateral testis in patients with unilateral germinal testicular cancer were analysed by light microscopy for carcinoma-in-situ changes. Changes were found in 13 (5.2%) patients. One-third of patients with an atrophic contralateral testis (volume less than or equal to 12 ml) and one-fifth of patients with a history of cryptorchidism had changes in the remaining testis. In the present series 85% of cases with carcinoma-in-situ changes would have been diagnosed if the one-fifth of the patients having an atrophic testis or a history of cryptorchidism or both had been screened. Since the natural course of carcinoma in situ in the contralateral testis of patients with germinal testicular cancer has not been established, the patients are being re-evaluated frequently. To date two patients with carcinoma in situ have developed a second cancer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

A Gene Encoding Sialic-Acid-Specific 9-O-Acetylesterase Found in Human Adult Testis.

Using differential display RT-PCR, we identified a gene of 2750 bp from human adult testis, named H-Lse, which encoded a putative protein of 523 amino acids and molecular weight of 58 kd with structural characteristics similar to that of mouse lysosome sialic-acid-specific 9-O-acetylesterase. Northern blot analysis showed a widespread distribution of H-Lse in various human tissues with high expression in the testis, prostate, and colon. In situ hybridization results showed that while H-Lse was not detected in embryonic testis, positive signals were found in spermatocytes but not spermatogonia in adult testis of human. The subcellular localization of H-Lse was visualized by green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to the amino terminus of H-Lse, showing compartmentalization of H-Lse in large dense-core vesicles, presumably lysosomes, in the cytoplasm. The developmentally regulated and spermatogenic stage-specific expression of H-Lse suggests its possible involvement in the development of the testis and/or differentiation of germ cells.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Transcutaneous high-intensity focused ultrasound and irradiation: an organ-preserving treatment of cancer in a solitary testis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and safety of transcutaneous ablation of human testicular tissue by high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). METHODS: Transcutaneous ablation of human testicular tissue by HIFU was performed with equipment previously developed for transrectal prostate ablation. This device utilizes a piezoceramic transducer operating at 4.0 MHz with a site-intensity of 1,600-2,000 W/cm2. To study the histological impact of transcutaneous HIFU, tests of 4 patients with prostate cancer were subjected to transcutaneous HIFU-therapy prior to scrotal orchiectomy in a phase I trial. In a phase II clinical trial, 4 patients with the typical sonographic pattern of a tumor in a solitary testis were treated with transcutaneous HIFU as a minimally invasive organ-preserving approach followed by a 6 weeks' course of prophylactic irradiation of the testis with 20 Gy. In all 4 patients, the contralateral testis had been previously removed for testis cancer. RESULTS: Histologically, HIFU-treated areas exhibited signs of cellular necrosis in all cases (n = 4). The border between viable and necrotic tissue was extremely sharp comprising only 5-7 cell layers. In the phase II clinical study, we aimed to ablate the entire cancer in a single therapeutic HIFU session. HIFU treatment was performed under general anesthesia. As negative side effects we observed a cutaneous thermolesion in 1 individual. One patient refused to undergo postoperative irradiation and developed a local failure. This patient underwent radical orchiectomy. Another patient received two cycles of chemotherapy for a single suspicious retroperitoneal lymph node diagnosed 6 months after HIFU therapy. Three patients are tumor-free with a follow-up of 16, 23 and 31 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the feasibility and safety of transcutaneous testicular tissue ablation by HIFU. Despite the major drawback of this technique, i.e. that no tumor histology is obtained, we believe that transcutaneous HIFU followed by irradiation has the potential to be established as a minimally invasive treatment alternative to organ-preserving surgery for tumors in a solitary testis.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Enhanced expression of tyrosine kinase receptor a in germ cells of rat testis with acute experimental testicular torsion.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: To examine the involvement of neurotrophic factor receptors in the testis with acute experimental testicular torsion, the expression of tyrosine kinase receptors (trk) A and B, and p75 nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) were studied in the rat testis with ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis was detected using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in TUNEL-positive reaction in spermatogonia in the seminiferous tubules in rat testes after testicular torsion. Western blot analysis showed that trk A expression reached a significant peak at 12 h after reperfusion (p < 0.01), as compared to sham-operated controls, whereas trk B was not increased in the testis after I/R. Constitutive expression of p75 NGFR was at or below the level detectable by Western blot analysis, and it remained unchanged in the testis after I/R. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that after I/R trk A expression was increased in spermatocytes and spermatids in the seminiferous tubules, in contrast to the basal location of the TUNEL-positive reaction. Immunoreactivity of trk B was seen mainly in the interstitial cells in the sham-operated testis, and its localization was not changed after I/R. CONCLUSION: It is postulated that trk A and B, but not p75 NGFR, are involved differently in the survival of testicular cells during acute experimental testicular torsion. In particular, increased trk A seems to be related to germ cell survival following I/R.

Animals↗