High expression of TGF-beta1 and endoglin in testicular human pathologies

GONZALEZ CR; MATZKIN ME; FRUNGIERI MB; TERRADAS C; PONZIO R; PUIGDOMENECH E; LEVALLE O; CALANDRA RS; GONZALEZ-CALVAR SI

Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Congreso; 13th International Congress of Endocrinology, 8-12 noviembre, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Endocrinologia y Metabologia 52: 1024, PO 668, 2008; 2008

International Society of Endocrinology

Primary testicular failure affects 1% of all men, and different degrees of oligospermia are associated to idiopathic infertility. The most common histological patterns of these patients are hypospermatogenesis (H), maturation arrest and Sertoli cell-only Syndrome (SCO) with or without focal spermatogenesis. Histological evaluation of the testes from infertile patients showed a variable degree of Leydig cell hyperplasia (LCH).Testicular development and function are under the control of hormones, cytokines and growth factors. Among these factors, TGF-beta1 is involved in steroidogenesis and gametogenesis. The aim of this work was to analyze the presence of TGF-beta1, its specific receptors ALK1, ALK5, TGFBRII and co-receptor endoglin (EDG) in testicular biopsies from patients with SCO (n=7) idiopathic H (n=9) and LCH (n=5). The occurrence of TGF-beta1 was detected in Leydig cells by immunohistochemistry. By RT-PCR, TGF-beta1 and EDG expression showed a 2-fold increase in LCH respect to SCO and H (p<0.05), whereas an increment of 1.5-fold was observed in ALK1 mRNA (p<0.05).  In all patients, the level of EDG expression presents a positive correlation (p<0.05) with ALK1 (r=0.45). Testosterone serum levels were into the normal range in the whole population. FSH levels were above normal range in 13/18 patients. In summary, patients with SCO and H that present HCL are associated to a higher expression of TGF-beta1 system. Moreover, the higher expression of EDG in patients that showed LCH, suggest its involvement in the proliferation of testicular interstitium.