Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Leydig cell in idiopathic varicocele.

J J Sirvent1, R Bernat, M A Navarro

  • 1Pathology Department, Tortosa Hospital Verge de la Cinta, Tarragona, Spain.

European Urology
|January 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary

Idiopathic varicocele (IV) impacts both testes, causing testicular atrophy and Leydig cell (LC) dysfunction. Despite normal testosterone and gonadotropin levels, estradiol is elevated, indicating a compensated hormonal imbalance.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Evaluation of a PET Insert for Trimodal Imaging: A Step Toward PET/MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound.

IEEE transactions on radiation and plasma medical sciences·2026
Same author

EURADOS ISO/IEC 17025 guidance for IMS: suggestions on how to interpret and implement the requirements including examples from accredited laboratories.

Radiation protection dosimetry·2023
Same author

Survivin drives tumor-associated macrophage reprogramming: a novel mechanism with potential impact for obesity.

Cellular oncology (Dordrecht, Netherlands)·2021
Same author

[Syncope].

Der Internist·2020
Same author

Antitumoral effect of maintained neutrophilia induced by rhG-CSF in a murine model of pancreatic cancer.

Scientific reports·2019
Same author

[Comments on the guidelines (2018) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) on the management of arterial hypertension].

Der Internist·2019

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Endocrinology
  • Urology
  • Andrology

Background:

  • Idiopathic varicocele (IV) is a common cause of male infertility.
  • The precise impact of IV on testicular histology and Leydig cell function remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the histological and functional changes in Leydig cells (LC) in patients with idiopathic varicocele.
  • To assess the involvement of both testes in idiopathic varicocele.

Main Methods:

  • Testicular biopsies from 31 patients with idiopathic varicocele were analyzed.
  • Histological examination included assessment of tubular diameter and Leydig cell morphology.
  • Immunohistochemistry using the testosterone peroxidase-antiperoxidase method was performed.
  • Peripheral blood levels of estradiol, testosterone, FSH, and LH were measured.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Testicular biopsies revealed decreased tubular diameter and Leydig cell hyperplasia with cytoplasmic vacuolization and atrophy in both affected and contralateral testes.
  • A reduction in positive Leydig cells for testosterone was observed.
  • No significant differences in cytoplasmic organelle volume within Leydig cells were found between testes.
  • Peripheral blood showed significantly increased estradiol levels with normal testosterone, FSH, and LH.

Conclusions:

  • Both testes are equally involved in idiopathic varicocele.
  • Patients exhibit compensated Leydig cell dysfunction characterized by increased estradiol and normal gonadotropins, despite histological changes.