Hyperthyroidism induced by paraneoplastic human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) production from testicular tumours: a retrospective clinical and histopathological study.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has structural similarities with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and may stimulate TSH receptors at higher concentrations. During pregnancy, placental hCG causes TSH suppression, contributing to hyperemesis. However, in males, clinical manifestations caused by excess hCG are rare.

Identification of two hidden clinical subgroups among men with idiopathic cryptozoospermia.

Study Question: Are there subgroups among patients with cryptozoospermia pointing to distinct etiologies?

Summary Answer: We reveal two distinct subgroups of cryptozoospermic (Crypto) patients based on testicular tissue composition, testicular volume, and FSH levels.

What Is Known Already: Cryptozoospermic patients present with a sperm concentration below 0.1 million/ml.

Male minipuberty in human and non-human primates: planting the seeds of future fertility.

In Brief: Minipuberty is a transient activity period of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in the postnatal and infant period including surging serum concentrations of reproductive hormones. Increasing evidence points to an important role of this period for maturation of the testes and thereby for male reproductive function.

Abstract: Minipuberty is a transient activity period of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in the postnatal and infant period in humans and non-human primates.

Interplay of spermatogonial subpopulations during initial stages of spermatogenesis in adult primates.

The spermatogonial compartment maintains spermatogenesis throughout the reproductive lifespan. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has revealed the presence of several spermatogonial clusters characterized by specific molecular signatures. However, it is unknown whether the presence of such clusters can be confirmed in terms of protein expression and whether protein expression in the subsets overlaps.

WWC2 expression in the testis: Implications for spermatogenesis and male fertility.

The family of WWC proteins is known to regulate cell proliferation and organ growth control via the Hippo signaling pathway. As WWC proteins share a similar domain structure and a common set of interacting proteins, they are supposed to fulfill compensatory functions in cells and tissues. While all three WWC family members WWC1, WWC2, and WWC3 are found co-expressed in most human organs including lung, brain, kidney, and liver, in the testis only WWC2 displays a relatively high expression.

Testicular Architecture of Men with 46,XX Testicular Disorders of Sex Development.

Background: A subtype of disorders of sex development (DSD) in individuals with a 46,XX karyotype who are phenotypically male is classified as testicular DSD (46,XX TDSD). These individuals develop testes but are infertile due to germ cell loss. However, little is known about their testicular architecture.

Effects of castration and sterilization on baseline and response levels of cortisol-A case study in male guinea pigs.

An uncontrolled reproduction of animals in human hands should be avoided. To meet this goal, animals are widely castrated, i.e.

New perspectives on fertility in transwomen with regard to spermatogonial stem cells.

Objective: Germ cells of transwomen are affected by gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT). Fertility will be lost after surgical intervention; thereby, fertility preservation becomes an increasingly imortant topic. This study investigated if the absolute number of spermatogonia in transwomen is comparable at the time of gender-affirming surgery (GAS) to that in pre-pubertal boys.

Transcriptome analyses in infertile men reveal germ cell-specific expression and splicing patterns.

The process of spermatogenesis-when germ cells differentiate into sperm-is tightly regulated, and misregulation in gene expression is likely to be involved in the physiopathology of male infertility. The testis is one of the most transcriptionally rich tissues; nevertheless, the specific gene expression changes occurring during spermatogenesis are not fully understood. To better understand gene expression during spermatogenesis, we generated germ cell-specific whole transcriptome profiles by systematically comparing testicular transcriptomes from tissues in which spermatogenesis is arrested at successive steps of germ cell differentiation.

Genetic Architecture of Azoospermia-Time to Advance the Standard of Care.

Background: Crypto- and azoospermia (very few/no sperm in the semen) are main contributors to male factor infertility. Genetic causes for spermatogenic failure (SPGF) include Klinefelter syndrome and Y-chromosomal azoospermia factor microdeletions, and CFTR mutations for obstructive azoospermia (OA). However, the majority of cases remain unexplained because monogenic causes are not analysed.

Limited spermatogenic differentiation of testicular tissue from prepubertal marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) in an in vitro organ culture system.

Purpose: of the research: To achieve male fertility preservation and restoration, experimental strategies for in vitro germ cell differentiation are required. The effects of two different culture conditions on in vitro maintenance and differentiation of non-human primate germ cells was studied. Three testes from three 6-month-old marmosets were cultured using a gas-liquid interphase system for 12 days.

New Insights Into Extended Steroid Hormone Profiles in Transwomen in a Multi-Center Setting in Germany.

Background: Little information is available on steroid hormone profiles in transwomen on the day of gender affirming surgery (GAS) after gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT).

Aim: We compared extended serum steroid hormone profiles of 77 transwomen with 3 different treatment regimens in order to get more insight on how GAHT changes the hormone system.

Methods: Samples were obtained from 3 independent clinics.

Serum and intratesticular inhibin B, AMH, and spermatogonial numbers in trans women at gender-confirming surgery: An observational study.

Background: Anti-Müllerian hormone and inhibin B are produced by Sertoli cells. Anti-Müllerian hormone secretion indicates an immature Sertoli cell state. Inhibin B serves as a marker of male fertility.

Healthy ageing and spermatogenesis.

Delayed family planning and increased parental age increase the risk for infertility and impaired offspring health. While the impact of ageing on oogenesis is well studied, this is less understood on spermatogenesis. Assessing ageing effects on the male germline presents a challenge in differentiating between the effects of ageing-associated morbidities, infertility and 'pure' ageing.

Testicular blood supply is altered in the 41,XX* Klinefelter syndrome mouse model.

Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism is a major feature of Klinefelter syndrome (KS), assumed to be caused by testicular hormone resistance. It was previously shown that intratesticular testosterone levels in vivo and Leydig cell function in vitro seem to be normal indicating other functional constraints. We hypothesized that impaired testicular vascularization/blood flow could be a co-factor to the observed hypergonadotropic hypogonadism.

Bi-allelic Mutations in M1AP Are a Frequent Cause of Meiotic Arrest and Severely Impaired Spermatogenesis Leading to Male Infertility.

Male infertility affects ∼7% of men, but its causes remain poorly understood. The most severe form is non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), which is, in part, caused by an arrest at meiosis. So far, only a few validated disease-associated genes have been reported.

41,XX * male mice: An animal model for Klinefelter syndrome.

Klinefelter syndrome (KS, 47,XXY) is the most frequent male chromosomal aneuploidy resulting in a highly heterogeneous clinical phenotype associated with hormonal dysbalance, increased rate of co-morbidities, and reduced lifespan. Two hallmarks of KS-affecting testicular functions are consistently observed: Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and germ cell (GC) loss resulting in infertility. Although KS is being studied for decades, the underlying mechanisms for the observed pathophysiology are still unclear.

Does the FSHB c.-211G>T polymorphism impact Sertoli cell number and the spermatogenic potential in infertile patients?

Background: A genetic variant within the FSHB gene can deviate FSH action on spermatogenesis. The c.-211G>T FSHB single nucleotide polymorphism impacts FSHB transcription and biosynthesis due to interference with the LHX3 transcription factor binding.

Development and Disease-Dependent Dynamics of Spermatogonial Subpopulations in Human Testicular Tissues.

Cancer therapy and conditioning treatments of non-malignant diseases affect spermatogonial function and may lead to male infertility. Data on the molecular properties of spermatogonia and the influence of disease and/or treatment on spermatogonial subpopulations remain limited. Here, we assessed if the density and percentage of spermatogonial subpopulation changes during development ( = 13) and due to disease and/or treatment ( = 18) in tissues stored in fertility preservation programs, using markers for spermatogonia (MAGEA4), undifferentiated spermatogonia (UTF1), proliferation (PCNA), and global DNA methylation (5mC).

Age-related distribution and potential role of SNCB in topographically different retinal areas of the common marmoset Callithrix jacchus, including the macula.

Evidence of an age-related increase of β-synuclein (SNCB) in several parts of the visual system including the retina has been reported. SNCB is thought to function as an antagonist of α-synuclein in neurodegenerative diseases, but the exact role of SNCB remains unclear. The presented work studies two different aspects of the onset and role of SNCB in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).

Spermatogonial stem cells: updates from specification to clinical relevance.

Human spermatogonia are target for exploration of adult stem cell characteristics and potential source for the development of therapeutic applications. Almost 50 years ago, Yves Clermont stated with regard to the nature of the true stem cells: 'there is the possibility that other classes of spermatogonia exist beside the three classes (Adark, Apale and type B)…; …we still know too little about the human spermatogonial stem cells'… This review seeks to provide current knowledge, focusing on different aspects of human spermatogonia, and novel information based on species comparisons with regard to the adaptation of their proliferative potential. Moreover, the objective is to provide an update on the state of the art concerning the potential use of human spermatogonia for clinical applications.

Loss of connexin 43 in Sertoli cells provokes postnatal spermatogonial arrest, reduced germ cell numbers and impaired spermatogenesis.

For the reason that adult Sertoli cell specific connexin 43 knockout (SCCx43KO) mice show arrested spermatogenesis at spermatogonial level or Sertoli cell only tubules and significantly reduced germ cell (GC) numbers, the aims of the present study were (1) to characterize the remaining GC population and (2) to elucidate possible mechanisms of their fading. Apoptosis was analyzed in both, KO and wild type (WT) male littermates during postnatal development and in adulthood using TUNEL. Although GC numbers were significantly reduced in KO at 2 and 8 days postpartum (dpp) when compared to WT, no differences were found concerning apoptotic incidence between genotypes.