Expression of cytokeratins 8 and 18 in human Sertoli cells of immature and atrophic seminiferous tubules. |
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| Authors: | P Stosiek M Kasper U Karsten |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Pathology, District Hospital, G?rlitz, German Democratic Republic. |
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| Abstract: | Tissues of human testes, either normal (23 specimens of various developmental stages), or affected by pathological conditions (19 specimens of dystopia, atrophia and/or oligospermia) were immunohistochemically examined for the expression of different cytokeratins, using mainly frozen material. Cytokeratins 8 and 18 were found in varying amounts in Sertoli cells of fetal, prepubertal and senile testes and in all cases of pathological alteration. Cytokeratins were completely absent only in normal, mature seminiferous tubules. Therefore, the immunohistochemical detection of cytokeratins in Sertoli cells seems to provide a sensitive marker for immature or damaged testes. |
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