LOCALISATION OF NON SPECIFIC ESTERASES IN NORMAL AND PATHOLOGICAL TISSUES OF HUMAN TESTES INVESTIGATED BY HISTOCHEMICAL METHODS

The topic of the α-naphthyl acetate esterase, of the naphthol-AS-acetate esterase and of the naphthol-AS-D chloracetate esterase was examined in 10 biopsies from normal testes and in 10 biopsies from pathological ones (eight times damaged parenchyma and two times M. Klinefelter). These non-specific esterases were found in Leydig cells, Sertoli cells and in interstitial connectivetissue cells. The intensity of the reaction decreased in the same order. The same conditions were found as well in normal as in pathological testes including the M. Klinefelter cases which have been confirmed by the chromosome analysis. The stain of the α-naphthyl acetate esterase produced the results which, optically, could be seized best. Besides, using the naphthol-AS-D chloracetate esterase the frequency of the presence of mast cells in the interstitial tissue could be observed. Earler investigations reporting that these mast cells are found in great frequency in damaged parenchyma of testes were confirmed. The conclusions of the study were compared with the conditions published concerning the same subject. Besides, it was stated that these non-specific esterases can be found in testes where lipids can be found too. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.