High-magnification observation of seminiferous tubules through the tunica albuginea by two-photon laser scanning microscopy. 2011

Vincent Achard, and Pascal Weber, and Georges Mercier, and Marie-Pierre Blanchard
Laboratoire d'Histologie-Cytologie, Faculté de Médecine secteur Timone, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille 13385, France. vincent.achard@mail.ap-hm.fr

Testicular sperm extraction is widely used in the treatment of male infertility in cases of non-obstructive azoospermia. Identifying spermatogenetic foci within the testes is critical for testicular sperm extraction. Two-photon laser scanning microscopy (TPLSM) is an autofluorescence-based microscopy technique that allows observation at a cellular level in the depth of fresh living tissues and does not require any histological processing (fixation or staining). The wavelengths previously used have shown no phototoxicity on sperm. We used TPLSM to detect spermatogenetic foci in fresh mouse testicular parenchyma without disrupting the tunica albuginea. Fresh surgically retrieved testes were observed using TPLSM within 1 h after extraction. Contralateral testes for each animal were observed using standard histology. Using TPLSM we were able to observe and measure the diameter of seminiferous tubules through the tunica albuginea, similar to the histological control. Structures within epithelial tubules were also observed, although their nature has yet to be identified. TPLSM is a real-time microscopy technique that could detect spermatogenetic foci.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007248 Infertility, Male The inability of the male to effect FERTILIZATION of an OVUM after a specified period of unprotected intercourse. Male sterility is permanent infertility. Sterility, Male,Sub-Fertility, Male,Subfertility, Male,Male Infertility,Male Sterility,Male Sub-Fertility,Male Subfertility,Sub Fertility, Male
D008297 Male Males
D008810 Mice, Inbred C57BL One of the first INBRED MOUSE STRAINS to be sequenced. This strain is commonly used as genetic background for transgenic mouse models. Refractory to many tumors, this strain is also preferred model for studying role of genetic variations in development of diseases. Mice, C57BL,Mouse, C57BL,Mouse, Inbred C57BL,C57BL Mice,C57BL Mice, Inbred,C57BL Mouse,C57BL Mouse, Inbred,Inbred C57BL Mice,Inbred C57BL Mouse
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012671 Seminiferous Tubules The convoluted tubules in the TESTIS where sperm are produced (SPERMATOGENESIS) and conveyed to the RETE TESTIS. Spermatogenic tubules are composed of developing germ cells and the supporting SERTOLI CELLS. Seminiferous Tubule,Tubule, Seminiferous,Tubules, Seminiferous
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus
D018613 Microscopy, Confocal A light microscopic technique in which only a small spot is illuminated and observed at a time. An image is constructed through point-by-point scanning of the field in this manner. Light sources may be conventional or laser, and fluorescence or transmitted observations are possible. Confocal Microscopy,Confocal Microscopy, Scanning Laser,Laser Microscopy,Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy,Laser Scanning Microscopy,Microscopy, Confocal, Laser Scanning,Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy,Confocal Microscopies,Laser Microscopies,Laser Scanning Microscopies,Microscopies, Confocal,Microscopies, Laser,Microscopies, Laser Scanning,Microscopy, Laser,Microscopy, Laser Scanning,Scanning Microscopies, Laser,Scanning Microscopy, Laser

Related Publications

Vincent Achard, and Pascal Weber, and Georges Mercier, and Marie-Pierre Blanchard
January 1985, Applied pathology,
Vincent Achard, and Pascal Weber, and Georges Mercier, and Marie-Pierre Blanchard
January 1978, Archives of andrology,
Vincent Achard, and Pascal Weber, and Georges Mercier, and Marie-Pierre Blanchard
January 1975, Nihon Hinyokika Gakkai zasshi. The japanese journal of urology,
Vincent Achard, and Pascal Weber, and Georges Mercier, and Marie-Pierre Blanchard
April 1990, Science (New York, N.Y.),
Vincent Achard, and Pascal Weber, and Georges Mercier, and Marie-Pierre Blanchard
October 2007, Tanpakushitsu kakusan koso. Protein, nucleic acid, enzyme,
Vincent Achard, and Pascal Weber, and Georges Mercier, and Marie-Pierre Blanchard
July 1987, The Journal of urology,
Vincent Achard, and Pascal Weber, and Georges Mercier, and Marie-Pierre Blanchard
January 2002, Acta histochemica,
Vincent Achard, and Pascal Weber, and Georges Mercier, and Marie-Pierre Blanchard
November 2009, Journal of fluorescence,
Vincent Achard, and Pascal Weber, and Georges Mercier, and Marie-Pierre Blanchard
October 2010, Guang pu xue yu guang pu fen xi = Guang pu,
Vincent Achard, and Pascal Weber, and Georges Mercier, and Marie-Pierre Blanchard
January 2004, Microscopy research and technique,
Copied contents to your clipboard!