Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study of basal lamina of the testis in adolescent varicocele

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a possible involvement of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the testes of adolescents with varicocele. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University-based medical center. PATIENT(s): Twenty-four adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years underwent surgical treatment for repair of left idiopathic varicocele.Intervention: A testis biopsy was performed at time of surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(s): Transmission electron microscopy study of basal lamina and immunofluorescence studies of collagen type IV and laminin, two major components of basal lamina. RESULT(s): Transmission electron microscopy observations showed an uneven profile of the basal lamina with a variable thickness. Immunofluorescence studies showed an irregular immunofluorescent line that appeared interrupted in some observations. Collagen type IV showed some areas of strong immunostaining with other areas with reduced immunoreactivity. CONCLUSION(s): Our ultrastructural and immunohistochemical observations highlight focal damage at the level of peritubular basal lamina, but this damage is not as severe as that described in adult varicocele. Initial involvement of basal lamina could represent one of the mechanisms responsible for varicocele-induced histologic alterations of the testes