In Vitro Generation of Haploid Germ Cells from Human XY and XXY Immature Testes in a 3D Organoid System.

Increasing survival rates of children following cancer treatment have resulted in a significant population of adult survivors with the common side effect of infertility. Additionally, the availability of genetic testing has identified Klinefelter syndrome (classic 47,XXY) as the cause of future male infertility for a significant number of prepubertal patients. This study explores new spermatogonia stem cell (SSC)-based fertility therapies to meet the needs of these patients.

propagation of XXY human Klinefelter spermatogonial stem cells: A step towards new fertility opportunities.

Klinefelter Syndrome (KS) is characterized by a masculine phenotype, supernumerary sex chromosomes (47, XXY), and impaired fertility due to loss of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Early testicular cryopreservation could be an option for future fertility treatments in these patients, including SSCs transplantation or spermatogenesis. It is critically essential to adapt current SSCs propagation systems as a fertility option for KS patients.

Age-related presence of spermatogonia in patients with Klinefelter syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Klinefelter syndrome (KS) has been defined by sex chromosome aneuploidies (classically 47, XXY) in the male patient. The peripubertal timeframe in KS patients has been associated with the initiation of progressive testicular fibrosis, loss of spermatogonial stem cells (SSC), hypogonadism and impaired fertility. Less than half of KS patients are positive for spermatozoa in the ejaculate or testis via semen analysis or testicular sperm extraction, respectively.

Effect of the American Urological Association Annual Review course on the results of the urology qualifying examination.

Purpose: In this study we assess the impact of a urology dedicated review course on the scores of the corresponding board qualifying examination for attendees of the urology review course.

Materials And Methods: The ABU (American Board of Urology) Qualifying Examination scores from 2009, 2010 and 2011 were categorized into group 1 candidates who attended the AUA (American Urological Association) Annual Review Course the same year, and group 2 candidates who did not attend the AUA Annual Review Course that same year, and were compared. The scores of the preceding year's In-Service Examination were also compared for the same groups of candidates and compared to their subsequent first time taken Qualifying Examination scores.

SpermCheck Fertility, an immunodiagnostic home test that detects normozoospermia and severe oligozoospermia.

Background: A simple and inexpensive home sperm test could be of considerable value to couples attempting to conceive and to men curious about their fertility potential. A two-strip lateral flow immunochromatographic diagnostic device that allows men to evaluate their sperm count at low cost in the privacy of their own homes is described.

Methods: The ability of SpermCheck Fertility to predict sperm counts obtained using a hemacytometer procedure based on standard World Health Organization methodology was assessed.

Clinical and consumer trial performance of a sensitive immunodiagnostic home test that qualitatively detects low concentrations of sperm following vasectomy.

Purpose: Compliance with post-vasectomy semen analysis could be improved with the availability of a simple, rapid and accurate home test. SpermCheck Vasectomy, a highly sensitive lateral flow immunochromatographic diagnostic device, was designed to detect extreme oligospermia or azoospermia in men after vasectomy. We report the results of clinical and consumer testing of SpermCheck.

Gamete retrieval in terminal conditions.

There has been a growing interest and requests by patients facing intensive chemotherapy or surgically ablative procedures for gamete retrieval and preservation for future procreative efforts. There are technical difficulties in this area but little ethical discomfort. More troubling are the issues that arise with a terminally ill, incapable patient-one who is in a persistent vegetative state or who is declared brain dead or who is neurologically devastated with no hope for recovery, but not yet in either of the above states-or with a person who has suddenly died.

A novel technique for ventriculovesical shunting of congenital hydrocephalus.

Purpose: Hydrocephalus is typically treated with a ventriculoperitoneal or ventriculoatrial shunt. However, shunt malfunction, recurrent infection or other co-morbidities occasionally make these shunts inappropriate. As early as 1925 a ureterodural anastomosis was used to divert cerebrospinal fluid into the urinary system.

Antisperm autoantibody response is reduced by early repair of a severed vas deferens in the juvenile rat.

Objective: To determine whether antisperm autoantibody production after prepubertal vas injury is influenced by immediate repair of the vas compared to delay of the reanastomosis until sexual maturity.

Design: Animal study comparing early repair, late repair, and sham-operated groups.

Setting: Research laboratory in a medical school.

Chronic treatment with finasteride daily does not affect spermatogenesis or semen production in young men.

Purpose: Finasteride, an oral type 2, 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, is used in 1 mg. daily doses for the treatment of male pattern hair loss. A dose of 5 mg.

Sperm mitochondria-associated cysteine-rich protein (SMCP) is an autoantigen in Lewis rats.

A common repertoire of rat sperm antigens have previously been identified by Western blotting of sperm proteins with sera obtained after vasectomy or isoimmunization with sperm. Aside from a determination of their apparent masses, however, the biochemical characteristics of these antigens have remained unknown. In this study, a rat testis cDNA expression library was screened with polyclonal antibodies obtained from rats immunized with isologous spermatozoa to identify and sequence a full-length clone encoding rat sperm mitochondria-associated cysteine-rich protein (SMCP).

Post-obstruction rat sperm autoantigens identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and western blotting.

Although antisperm autoantibody responses to obstruction of the male reproductive system have been documented, information on the nature of the cognate sperm autoantigens has been limited. In the present study, the patterns of sperm autoantigens recognized by sera from rats after obstruction of the vas deferens or epididymis were studied by high resolution two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis and western blotting. Comparisons of patterns of autoantigens stained on 2-D western blots of sera from prepubertal vasectomy, prepubertal epididymal ligation and adult vasectomy groups revealed both similarities and differences.

Male infertility. Evaluation and nonsurgical therapy.

Male infertility is a complicated and often poorly understood pathologic process. The cause of a man's infertility frequently remains unknown even after a thorough evaluation. Many of the currently available medical therapeutic options are empirical and lack documentation of efficacy.

Degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium following epididymal obstruction in prepubertal rats.

The development of the testes was studied in rats following prepubertal obstruction of the epididymis. Male rats received bilateral ligation of the corpus epididymidis or a sham operation at 10 days of age, and temporal changes in testicular morphology and weights of reproductive organs were determined at intervals spanning sexual maturation. Development of the testes was normal through 35 days of age.