Apoptosis associated with programmed cell death plays an essential role in the control of germ cell number in the testes. Although male germ cell apoptosis has been well characterized in different animal models, only a few studies of apoptosis in human testes are presently available. In 43 infertile men with azoospermia of varying aetiology, testicular tissue was obtained by testicular biopsy. Apoptosis of testicular germ cells was determined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling method in situ. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling-positive cells were found in the testicular tissue of all patients with azoospermia, except in Sertoli cell-only syndrome. The apoptotic index was higher in germ cell hypoplasia and in normal spermatogenesis in comparison with germ cell arrest. This study was performed to confirm the presence and determine the frequency of apoptosis in infertile men.

Department of Histology and Embryology Faculty of Medicine University of Maribor Maribor Slovenia