Abstract
Retractile testes are frequently observed. There is currently disagreement concerning the definition of retractile testes, and therefore their treatment is still controversial. The microscopic description of testicular biopsies is usually focused on germ cells. This study describes Sertoli-cell morphology in retractile testes. Ten biopsies of retractile testes from 9 children aged 4–10 years and 1 biopsy of a descended testis from a child 2 months of age were examined by light and electron microscopy. Based on Sertoli-cell morphology, tubular degeneration phases V–VII according to the classification of Rune were observed in 80% of retractile-testis biopsies, but not in the biopsy of the descended testis. Electron microscopy revealed dilatations of rough endoplasmic reticulum, irregular outlines of nuclear membranes, and vacuolization of cytoplasm in Sertoli cells of retractile testes. We conclude that Sertoli cells of retractile testes. We conclude that Sertoli cells in retractile testes, according to the definition of Goh and Hutson, do show distinct morphologic alterations resembling those alterations observed in cryptorchid testes.
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Mayr, J., Rune, G.M., Fasching, G. et al. Sertoli cell morphology in retractile prepubertal testes. Pediatr Surg Int 9, 90–94 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00176120
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00176120