[Distribution of hepatitis B virus in testicle tissue in patients with hepatitis B infection]

To study distribution of HBV in the testicle tissue, we used polyclonal antibody and ABC method in detecting autopsy testicle in 34 cases. The positive rate of HBsAg and HBcAg was 52.9% and 11.8% respectively. The positive cells of spermatogonium, primary spermatocytes, spermatid and sertoli cells were single or grouped in clusters form in the seminiferous tubule. Of the 6 cases studied with in situ hybridization, 2 had HBV DNA in spermatogenic cells in individual nucleus. The findings support morphologically the transmission of HBV via sexual contact.