A CLINICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF DISORDERS OF HUMAN TESTES

The testes of 50 subfertile and infertile males were investigated by clinical and histochemical methods. The enzyme activity per cell of interstitial cells of normal and abnormal testes was about the same. The output of the gonadotrophins of men with seriously damaged testes may be increased; the output of the oestrogens was normal and the output of 17-ketosteroids was normal or slightly decreased. Some of these patients showed a poor development of growth of the beard. The Sertoli cell is very resistant to atrophy and keeps a high enzyme activity for a long time. Besides an inhibiting effect of the steroids produced in the interstitial cells, it is also possible that under normal circumstances an inhibiting substance is produced in the Sertoli cells, which is necessary for a harmonious balance between hypophysis and testes.