Effect of Testis Biopsy on Testosterone Production

[摘要] Ever since Tash and Schlegel1 published their observation that a testis biopsy for sperm extraction “shocks” the spermatogenic compartment such that it takes 6 months to recover normal spermatogenesis, very little attention has been paid to what happens to the interstitial compartment in this setting. Because testosterone is made in the interstitial compartment, it would be important to know whether such a shock occurs within this compartment and whether testosterone production is affected. Because testosterone in high local concentrations is necessary for normal spermatogenesis, a local drop in this level with a testis biopsy could be the reason spermatogenesis is delayed post testis biopsy and does not recover until testosterone production returns to normal.

[学科分类] 基础医学