STUDIES ON TESTICULAR FUNCTION

Report 3. Studies on Germinal Cell Count, Especially Germinal Cell Index and Spermatogenic Curve of Hypospermatogenesis

Abstract

1) In order to exactly evaluate spermatogenesis, germinal cell index was investigated. The germinal cell index is the ratio of germinal cell count to Sertoli cell count in the seminiferous tubule.
2) The average number of Sertoli cells per round seminiferous tubule, which was the denominator of the germinal cell index, was almost invariable in the case of the various grade of spermatogenesis. This means that Sertoli cell count is reliable as a basis of reference for the analysis of germinal cell count
3) The germinal cell index was 7.8±2.1 in the mild hypospermatogenesis, 4.7±2.1 in the moderate hypospermatogenesis, and 3.4±1.3 in the severe hypospermatogenesis.
4) In the cases with germinal cell index 0-3, spermiogenesis was unrecognized. In the cases with germinal cell index from 3 to 6, spermiogenesis was recognized in only 10 out of 22 cases. In the cases with germinal cell index from 6 to 9, spermiogenesis was recognized in 40 out of 42 cases.
5) Significant correlations were found between germinal cell index and sperm count or testicular weight. Correlation coefficients were 0.59 (p<0.05).
6) For the more detailed analysis of spermatogenesis, the germinal cell indices of each of four stages (spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes and spermatids) of spermatogenesis were plotted on a chart to obtain a curve, which was called spermatogenic curve. This curve is clinically usefull to show the detail of quantitative analysis of spermatogenesis at a look.