Open AccessThe ghrelin and orexin activity in testicular tissues of patients with idiopathic non‐obstructive azoospermia
Author(s) -
Ozkanli Seyma,
Basar Mehmet Murad,
Selimoglu Serkan,
Erol Bulent,
Ozkanli Oguz,
Nurili Fuad,
Kahraman Semra
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the kaohsiung journal of medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.439
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2410-8650
pISSN - 1607-551X
DOI - 10.1016/j.kjms.2018.04.001
Subject(s) - ghrelin , orexin a , medicine , azoospermia , testicular sperm extraction , endocrinology , obstructive azoospermia , hormone , orexin , sperm , andrology , neuropeptide , infertility , biology , pregnancy , receptor , genetics
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the presence of ghrelin and orexin in the testicular tissue of patients who have undergone microscopic testicular sperm extraction (micro‐TESE) due to idiopathic non‐obstructive azoospermia. Seventy azoospermic cases were included in this study; serum hormone levels were measured and genetic investigations were performed. The patients were divided into two groups: micro‐TESE (+) and micro‐TESE (−). The number of Leydig cells and stained cells in the seminiferous tubules were counted under a light microscope, and we analyzed ghrelin and orexin activity. The relationship between serum hormone levels and ghrelin and orexin distributions in testicular tissue was evaluated according to micro‐TESE results. While sperm was found in 33 cases (47.1%), micro‐TESE was negative in 37 cases (52.9%). Peptide hormone activity in testicular tissue was higher in micro‐TESE (+) cases. However, interstitial orexin (p = 0.038) and ghrelin (p = 0.002) activity showed statistically meaningful differences. Many different peptides, genes, and other unknown mechanisms play important roles in testicular function. In particular, the peptides orexin and ghrelin may play regulatory roles in testicular function in humans.