[Morphology of spermatids in elderly subjects].

This study has been performed with the aim of clarifying whether spermatid differentiation still proceeds regularly in advanced age. Specimens have been observed of testicular tissue from 108 patients orchidectomized because of prostatic carcinoma and before initiation of hormone therapy. In 30 subjects, 65 to 85 years old, mature spermatids have been found in the semithin sectioned germinal epithelium. The testicular tissue of these 30 patients has been investigated by means of transmission electron microscope. In the studied material most of the spermatids appear malformed. In patients less than 75 years old, about 70% of all spermatids are abnormal, in older patients nearly 90%. The malformations concern all cellular components, but can be seen most frequently in the acrosome and in the nucleus. There are isolated malformations, e.g. of the acrosome; however also combined malformations, e.g. the acrosome, the nucleus and the tail can be observed. In addition to these disturbances of spermatid differentiation, even disturbances of spermiation can be found, presumably caused by a misled function of the Sertoli cells. In these cases, a spermatid loses its contact with the Sertoli cell before final maturation.