Short-term hypothermic preservation of human testicular tissue: the effect of storage medium and storage period

Abstract

Objective: To optimize the storage medium and period during short-term preservation of human testicular tissue.

Design: First, human testicular tissue fragments from five patients were kept at 4°C for 3 days in different media (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium [DMEM]/F12, DMEM/F12 + 20% human serum albumin [HSA], DMEM/F12 + 50% HSA, and HSA). Secondly, fragments from four patients were kept in DMEM/F12 for 3, 5, or 8 days at 4°C.

Setting: Laboratory research environment.

Patient(s): Adult human testicular tissue.

Intervention(s): Biopsy and short-term storage of human testicular tissue at different conditions.

Main outcome measure(s): Viability, general tissue morphology, Sertoli cell morphology, number of spermatogonia, and apoptosis. The experimental conditions were compared with fresh control samples.

Result(s): Storing human testicular tissue in DMEM/F12 did not alter any of the investigated parameters. In most conditions containing HSA, tissue morphology was altered, and in all of them the Sertoli cell morphology was affected. The number of spermatogonia was only affected when tissue was stored in 100% HSA. In the second part of the study, tissue morphology deteriorated significantly as of 5 days of hypothermic storage, and Sertoli cell morphology after 8 days.

Conclusion(s): Human testicular tissue can be preserved for 3 days at 4°C in DMEM/F12 without altering tissue morphology, Sertoli cell morphology, number of spermatogonia, or number of apoptotic cells.

Keywords: Human; fertility; preservation; short-term; testis.