Testicular biopsy of azoospermic men with vas deferens malformation using two different techniques

A morphological analysis was carried out on testicular biopsies of men with obstructive azoospermia as consequence of vas deferens malformations as compared with biopsies from fertile men. For each case the biopsies were processed with two different techniques: routine histological procedure, and semithin sections of specimens processed for electron microscopy. Four parameters were considered: tubular morphology, testicular biopsy score count (TBSC), tubular diameter, and germinal cell density. The data were quantified and analyzed by statistical tests. The biopsies of azoospermic men present a higher frequency of tubular sections with "tubular blockage," "sloughing" and cellular degeneration, lower values of TBSC, and lower germinal cell density. The results appear to be of relevant interest in relation to the existence of long-term testicular alteration following vasectomy.