| BACKGROUD AND OBJECTIVETesticular microlithiasis (TM), an uncommon pathologic condition, is characterized by calcium deposits within the seminiferous tubules. Currently, people with TM could be classified into two different types, limited testicular microlithiasis (LTM) and classic testicular microlithiasis (CTM). At present, researchers have gradually reached a consensus on the increasing trend of TM incidence. Although the prevention and treatment of TM is still rarely reported, the etiology and pathogenesis, especially correlation with male reproductive function, have attracted people’s attention. TM is hypothesized to be clinically relevant because it is associated with spermatogenesis failure. Therefore, it is important and of significance to investigate the clinical characteristics of the testicular microlithiasis and the association, especially the two different types (CTM/LTM), with sperm quality in adult males.PATIENTS AND METHODS1. We retrospectively reviewed the sperm quality of41adult males diagnosed with TM. Patients were divided into two groups:CTM and LTM. The clinical data, especially the sperm parameters, were collected and analyzed.2. Moreover, control group including11males without TM (i.e. non-TM group) were collected to compare with patients.3. Data analyses were performed with analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student’s t-test by SPSS18.0software (SPSS Inc., USA). And P<0.05was considered statistically significant.RESULTS 1. There were31patients (75.61%) diagnosed with CTM and10(24.39%) with LTM of the whole41TM males.2. The mean age, BMI and testicular volume of TM ones was29.49±4.97years old,25.39±4.07kg/m2, and16.94±3.59ml, respectively. Moreover, the mean age, BMI and testicular volume of CTM/LTM was (30.06±5.28vs.27.70±3.47) years old,(25.54±4.33vs.24.92±3.27) kg/m2, and (16.66±3.39vs.17.81±4.21) ml, respectively. While, the mean age, BMI and testicular volume of non-TM ones was27.82±3.34years old,25.46±3.57kg/m2, and17.90±2.91ml, respectively.3. The differences of sperm concentration (48.59±25.44×106/ml vs.89.06±36.03×106/ml), total sperm number (182.95±127.72×106vs.309.92±123.15×106), and percentage of non-progressively motile (12.17±5.21%vs.18.10±7.27%), between TM and non-TM were statistically significant (P<0.05).4. The differences of sperm concentration (44.89±26.14×106/ml vs.60.06±20.16×106/ml vs.89.06±36.03×106/ml), total sperm number (160.33±106.50×106vs.253.05±165.74×106vs.309.92±123.15×106), total motility (53.37±21.43%vs.71.28±16.96%vs.70.77±21.61%), percentage of progressively motile (41.47±17.79%vs.58.28±15.73%vs.52.67±20.19%), non-progressively motile (11.90±5.63%vs.13.00±3.71%vs.18.10±7.27%) and immotile (46.63±21.43%vs.28.72±16.96%vs.29.25±21.60%), between three groups (i.e. CTM, LTM and non-TM) were statistically significant (P<0.05).5. The differences of sperm concentration (44.89±26.14×106/ml vs.89.06±36.03×106/ml), total sperm number (160.33±106.50×106vs.309.92±123.15×106), total motility (53.37±21.43%vs.70.77±21.61%), percentage of non-progressively motile (11.90±5.63%vs.18.10±7.27%) and immotile (46.63±21.43%vs.29.25±21.60%), between CTM and non-TM were statistically significant (P<0.05).6. And the differences of sperm concentration (60.06±20.16×106/ml vs.89.06±36.03×106/ml) and percentage of non-progressively motile (13.00±3.71%vs.18.10±7.27%) between LTM and non-TM were statistically significant (P<0.05). 7. Furthermore, the differences of total sperm number (160.33±106.50×106vs.253.05±165.74×106), total motility (53.37±21.43%vs.71.28±16.96%), percentage of progressively motile (41.47±17.79%vs.58.28±15.73%) and immotile (46.63±21.43%vs.28.72±16.96%), between CTM and LTM were statistically significant (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONSThe sperm quality of CTM males is poorer than that of LTM males. Testicular microlithiasis is associated with worse sperm parameters in adult males. Moreover, the extent of microlithiasis and the sperm quality in adult males show a negative correlation relationship. |
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