Santoro G, Romeo C, Impellizzeri P, Gentile C, Anastasi G, Santoro A
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Fertil Steril. 2000 Apr;73(4):699-705. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(99)00611-1.
To evaluate a possible involvement of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the testes of adolescents with varicocele.
Cross-sectional study.
University-based medical center.
PATIENT(S): Twenty-four adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years underwent surgical treatment for repair of left idiopathic varicocele.
A testis biopsy was performed at time of surgery.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Transmission electron microscopy study of basal lamina and immunofluorescence studies of collagen type IV and laminin, two major components of basal lamina.
RESULT(S): Transmission electron microscopy observations showed an uneven profile of the basal lamina with a variable thickness. Immunofluorescence studies showed an irregular immunofluorescent line that appeared interrupted in some observations. Collagen type IV showed some areas of strong immunostaining with other areas with reduced immunoreactivity.
CONCLUSION(S): Our ultrastructural and immunohistochemical observations highlight focal damage at the level of peritubular basal lamina, but this damage is not as severe as that described in adult varicocele. Initial involvement of basal lamina could represent one of the mechanisms responsible for varicocele-induced histologic alterations of the testes.
评估细胞外基质（ECM）在精索静脉曲张青少年睾丸中的可能作用。
横断面研究。
大学医学中心。
24名年龄在13至18岁之间的青少年接受了左侧特发性精索静脉曲张修复手术治疗。
手术时进行睾丸活检。
基膜的透射电子显微镜研究以及基膜的两种主要成分IV型胶原和层粘连蛋白的免疫荧光研究。
透射电子显微镜观察显示基膜轮廓不均匀，厚度可变。免疫荧光研究显示出不规则的免疫荧光线，在某些观察中似乎中断。IV型胶原显示出一些强免疫染色区域，而其他区域免疫反应性降低。
我们的超微结构和免疫组织化学观察突出了睾丸周围基膜水平的局灶性损伤，但这种损伤不如成人精索静脉曲张中描述的严重。基膜的初始受累可能是精索静脉曲张引起睾丸组织学改变的机制之一。
