INHIBIN BODIES: A NEW MARKER FOR IMMATURE SERTOLI CELLS

Manuel Nistal (1) , Laura G Pastrian (1) , Pilar Gonzalez Peramato (1) , Maria P de Miguel (2)

1 Pathology
2 Cell Engineering Laboratory

Aims: To provide a marker for immature and dysgenetic Sertoli cells which allows easy identification in patients in which Sertoli cell maturation does not properly take place, such as those consulting for cryptorchidism, testicular tumours, and infertility. Methods and Results: We performed immunohistochemistry against inhibin α subunit, and the endoplasmic reticulum marker Grp78 in normal human testes from fetal life to adulthood, and in several testicular lesions where Sertoli cell maturation is abnormal. We describe a pattern of inhibin immunostain (inhibin bodies of 2-9 µm in diameter at the Sertoli cells cytoplasm apical pole) in immature and dysgenetic Sertoli cells that facilitates their identification. Inhibin bodies were found in tubules with either no germ cells, or only spermatogonia or carcinoma in situ (CIS) and seminoma cells, but not in tubules containing more advanced germ cells. Conclusions: Our data provides a new marker of immature and dysgenetic Sertoli cells. In addition, our data suggest that inhibin bodies represent a slower transit of inhibin through the endoplasmic reticulum, as inhibin bodies were associated with Grp78.

Mots clés: Medicine

Manuel Nistal, Laura G Pastrian, Pilar Gonzalez Peramato, Maria P de Miguel. INHIBIN BODIES: A NEW MARKER FOR IMMATURE SERTOLI CELLS. Histopathology, 2011, 58 (7), pp.1019. ⟨10.1111/j.1365-2559.2011.03858.x⟩. ⟨hal-00655189⟩