查看文章

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression and localization of Aven in rat and human testis from azoospermic patients with different etiologies and its regulation by estrogens. DESIGN: Experimental study. SETTING: University research center and private IVF clinic. PATIENT(S): Six men with obstructive azoospermia, five with hypospermatogenesis, and six with Sertoli cell–only syndrome; male Wistar rats. INTERVENTION(S): Testicular biopsies and rat seminiferous tubules (SeT) cultured in the presence or absence of 17β-estradiol (E₂). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Testicular cell localization of Aven protein was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Expression levels of Aven in testicular biopsies and cultured SeT, in the presence or absence of 17β-estradiol, were determined by quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. RESULT(S): Aven is expressed in Sertoli cells, spermatocytes …