Altered expression of progesterone receptors in testis of infertile men

Progesterone has been implicated in the process of spermatogenesis. This study airned to investigate the association of progesterone receptor (PR) expression with spermatogenesis in the testis of infertile men. PR rnRNA and protein were assessed by in-situ hybridization and unInLinohistochernistry in testicular biopsies obtained frorn 18 infertile inen. The extent of sperniatogenesis was assessed by Johnsen scoring. None of the patients included in the Study had Ycl alicrodeletions. PR expression was almost undetcctable in all the testicular sections displaying Sertoli cell only (SCO) or arrest at sperniatogonia. Weak cytoplasmic expression was observed in biopsies showing arrest at different stages of meiosis. In biopsies displaying sperinatogencsis up to the round sperinalid stages, PR expressi 0 n was observed in both nucleus and cytoplasin of different cell types at intensity lower than that detected in normal biopsies. Normal PR expression was observed in biopsies demonstrating hyposperniatogenesis. In biopsies showing illixed phenotypes, the tubules with SCO or spenuatopnia arrest showed absence of PR expression; normal PR expression was observed in adjacent tubules showing complete sperniatooenesis. Serni-cluantitative assessrnen of PR expression and Johnsen scores in the testicular biopsies of infertile inen dernonstratinIg different phenotypes indicated a direct relationship between PR expression and extent of spermatogenesis.