RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the tissue ultrastructure changes of small testis and sex hormone and their correlation. METHODS: The patients were divided into small tests (n = 8) and control group(n = 12). FSH, LH, T were determined by radioimmunassay. Diameter and wall thickness of convoluted seminiferous tubule were investigated with light microscope and electro microscopy on small testis tissue morphology and ultrastructure. RESULTS: FSH, LH, T of small testis and control group were (21.05 +/- 9.15) IU/L vs (6.74 +/- 3.52) IU/L, (22.88 +/- 6.25) IU/L vs (6.60 +/- 1.48) IU/L and (0.30 +/- 0.04) nmol/L vs (17.55 +/- 9.25) nmol/L, respectively. Seminiferous tubule diameter and wall thickness were(37.33 +/- 6.80) microns vs (198.46 +/- 29.84) microns and (10.30 +/- 1.82) microns vs (2.95 +/- 0.20) microns. Small testis tissue ultrastructure changed significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Pathologic changes of small testis tissue in many parts such as seminiferous tubule, germinal epithelium, Sertoli cell, Leydig cell, limiting membrance and blood vessel may relate with genetics and immunoreaction.