睾丸精子获取和单精子卵胞浆内注射术治疗非梗阻性无精子症不育

目的　探讨非梗阻性无精子症患者外科获取睾丸精子的方法和意义。　方法　 4 9例非梗阻性无精子症患者行开放睾丸活检和诊断性睾丸精子获取术 (TESE) ,诊断性TESE有精子者至少 3个月后行单精子卵胞浆内注射 (ICSI)治疗。　结果　 12例 (2 4 .9% )诊断性TESE中发现精子 ,其中 3例为生精减少 ,2例为生精阻滞 ,7例为Sertoli细胞综合征。睾丸体积、血FSH水平和睾丸病理类型不能准确预测是否有精子。 8例行ICSI治疗 ,7例 (87.5 % )再次TESE获得睾丸精子行显微注射 ,3例获得临床妊娠。　结论　非梗阻性无精子症患者有必要行诊断性TESE确定睾丸内是否存在精子 ,获取睾丸精子结合ICSI可以有效治疗非梗阻性无精子症不育。     

无精子症患者睾丸内精子存在的评估

目的　检测无精子症患者睾丸内精子存在情况。　方法　睾丸活检病例 5 0例 ,每例均作血内分泌激素检测、睾丸体积测量、睾丸组织学检查及睾丸精子提取 (TESE) ,分析促卵泡生成素(FSH)、睾丸体积和睾丸组织学与睾丸内精子存在的相关性。　结果　血FSH和睾丸体积预测睾丸精子是否存在准确性不强 ,而睾丸组织学结果与TESE一致 (敏感性 96 % ,特异性 10 0 % ,准确性10 0 % )。　结论　血FSH高和睾丸体积小的无精子症患者 ,应行睾丸活检并同时行TESE以明确睾丸内是否有精子。     

血清和精浆抑制素B在无精子症诊断中的应用研究

目的:评价血清和精浆抑制素B浓度在诊断梗阻性和非梗阻性无精子症中的应用价值。方法:测定25例正常生育者(正常对照组),37例梗阻性无精子症以及33例非梗阻性无精子症者的血清卵泡刺激素(FSH)、血清和精浆抑制素B浓度,对无精子症者行睾丸病理Johnsen评分。结果:精浆和血清抑制素B浓度比值在正常对照组和非梗阻性无精子组分别为2.17和3.63,差异无显著性(P=0.29);在梗阻性无精子症组两者比值为0.18,与正常对照组和非梗阻性无精子症组比较显著降低(P<0.01)。结论:精浆和血清抑制素B浓度比值可用于临床诊断梗阻性和非梗阻性无精子症。     

Y染色体微缺失检测及生殖激素水平研究在非梗阻性无精子症患者睾丸穿刺中的意义

目的 探讨非梗阻性无精子症患者睾丸穿刺取精前进行Y染色体微缺失筛查和生殖激素检测的意义.方法 按照WHO标准进行检查和精液分析,收集非梗阻性无精子症患者246例作为研究对象,用改良PCR进行Y染色体微缺失筛查,其中109例无精子症患者接受了睾丸穿刺精子抽吸术.梗阻型无精子症124例作为对照组.所有患者均采集年龄、不育史、附属性腺B超检测、睾丸体积以及生殖激素检测进行分析.结果 非梗阻性无精子症患者的FSH均值升高,与对照组相比,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).其中穿刺有精子与穿刺无精子患者相比,FSH均值偏低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);与AZF缺失的非梗阻性无精子症患者的FSH均值相比,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 FSH水平可以作为非梗阻性无精子症患者穿刺结果的预判因素之一,但对于Y染色体微缺失患者无预判价值.     

血清抑制素B检测在无精子症患者经睾丸抽吸术结局预评估中的应用

目的:探讨血清抑制素B(INHB)检测在无精子症患者经睾丸抽吸术(TESE)结局预评估中的意义。方法:根据研究需要将受试者分为3组:梗阻性无精子症(OA)组(n=191),非梗阻性无精子症(NOA)组(n=360),精液参数正常对照组(n=100)。NOA组根据TESE结局分为TESE无精子组(TESE-,n=127)和TESE有精子组(TESE+,n=233)。血液标本均于上午8:00~10:00收集,测定其INHB值。采用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)分析评价血清INHB预测TESE结局的敏感性和特异性。结果:TESE-组的血清INHB水平[(19.7±34.8)pg/ml]显著低于OA组[(106.8±66.2)pg/ml]、TESE+组[(98.2±62.4)pg/ml]及精液参数正常对照组[(108.3±65.0)pg/ml](P0.01),TESE+组的血清INHB水平与OA组、精液参数正常对照组无显著性差异(P0.05)。ROC曲线分析显示,血清INHB最佳分割点为19.1 pg/ml,此时ROC曲线下面积(AUCROC)为0.88,敏感性为90.1%,特异性为84.2%,诊断准确性达88.1%。结论:血清INHB是一种良好的非侵入性的精子生成预测指标,无精子症患者TESE前应该常规行血清INHB检测以评估其TESE结局。     

显微睾丸取精结果对非梗阻性无精子症患者勃起功能的影响

目的 探讨显微睾丸取精(TESE)结果对非梗阻性无精子症患者勃起功能的影响.方法 我院门诊筛选出68例拟行试管婴儿需TESE的非梗阻性无精子症患者,平均年龄为33.6岁(23～52岁).根据取精成功与否分成两组:A组为取精成功者,B组为取精失败者.手术前后,分别采用国际勃起功能指数调查问卷(IIEF-5问卷)评价两组受试者的勃起功能状况,同时采用焦虑自评量表(SAS问卷)及抑郁自评量表(SDS问卷)调查受试者精神状态,并检测血清中睾酮(T)、黄体生成素(LH)及卵泡刺激素(FSH)的含量,比较手术前后两组受试者各项指标是否存在差异.结果 68例受试者中,27例(39.7％)取精成功.显微睾丸取精后,IIEF-5问卷评分、SAS及SDS问卷评分与术前相比,A组评分无显著性差异,B组IIEF-5评分显著下降,SAS及SDS问卷评分显著增高(P＜0.05);两组患者术后血清T水平均显著降低,LH及FSH水平均显著升高(P＜0.05).结论 TESE术后,B组勃起功能显著下降,并存在明显的焦虑抑郁状态,A组勃起功能及焦虑抑郁状态无明显改变,两组受试者血清T水平较术前均显著降低.精神障碍可能是导致TESE失败患者勃起功能障碍的主要原因.     

探讨血清卵泡刺激素预测非梗阻性无精子症患者精子发生的切点值

目的：利用受试者工作特征曲线（receiver operator characteristic curve ROC曲线）探讨血清卵泡刺激素（FSH）的切点值,以预测非梗阻性无精子症患者睾丸的精子发生。方法选取104例非梗阻性无精子症患者测定其血清FSH（IU/L）值,行经皮睾丸取精子术（TESA）并根据睾丸活检报告分为有精子组（1组）和无精子组（2组）。结果 FSH≤7有52例（50%）,找到精子51例,其概率为98.08%（51/52）;7＜FSH≤14有20例（19.23%）,找到精子17例,其概率为85%（17/20）;14＜FSH≤21有13例（12.50%）,找到精子3例,其概率为23.08%（3/13）;FSH＞21有19例（18.27%）,找到精子6例,其概率为31.58%（6/19）。利用ROC曲线优选的血清FSH切点值是13.78IU/L,该点其敏感性为85.2%,特异性为88.3%,血清FSH水平的ROC曲线下面积为0.895,表明其诊断准确性较高。结论非梗阻性无精子症患者血清FSH水平对预测睾丸精子发生有重要意义。     

经皮附睾穿刺取精术在无精子症诊断中的应用

目的:介绍经皮附睾穿刺取精术(PESA)在梗阻性和非梗阻性无精子症诊断中的应用,并探讨睾丸体积和血清卵泡刺激素(FSH)水平对其结果的影响。方法:对118例临床诊断为无精子症的患者,用模型法测量睾丸体积,化学发光法测定血清性激素水平,用7号蝶形针头穿刺附睾头,同时抽吸附睾液。结果:118例无精子症患者中,60例附睾液中可见精子,其中睾丸体积正常者为56例,睾丸体积偏小者为4例;血清FSH水平正常者为55例,血清FSH水平增高者为5例。58例未见精子,其中睾丸体积正常者为34例,睾丸体积偏小者为24例;血清FSH正常者为38例,血清FSH增高者为20例。结果显示睾丸体积正常的患者PESA成功率明显高于睾丸体积偏小者,差异有显著性(P<0.05);血清FSH水平正常的患者PESA成功率明显高于FSH水平增高者,差异有显著性(P<0.05)。结论:PESA简便、快速,是无精子症诊断的一种可行方法。     

精子发生的血清标志物——抑制素-B

抑制素 B是睾丸来源的糖蛋白激素 ,由两个亚单位共价连接而成。成年男性体内血清抑制素 B水平与FSH呈显著负相关 ,对FSH起负反馈作用。男性出生后不久 ,血清抑制素 B水平逐渐上升 ,于青春期 Ⅱ 期达到成年人水平 ,从青春期 Ⅲ期至成年 ,抑制素 B与FSH之间一直维持负相关关系。 2 0～ 30岁时 ,抑制素 B水平到达另一个高峰 ,此后抑制素 B水平随年龄增加逐渐降低。生精功能低下与生精阻滞男性血清抑制素 B水平显著低于正常生精功能的男性 ,唯支持细胞综合征 (SCO)男性血清抑制素 B水平极低 ,SCO的发生与血清抑制素 B水平显著相关 ,血清抑制素 B水平还与睾丸体积、精子总数显著相关。抑制素 B水平反映了整个睾丸组织的功能 ,是输精管道的直接产物 ,成年男性血清中维持可检测的抑制素 B水平需要生精细胞的存在 ,因此抑制素 B被认为是男性精子发生的血清标志物。血清抑制素 B测定可用于评价男性不育病人的生精功能 ,儿童隐睾、性早熟的诊断 ,对非阻塞性无精子症病人睾丸精子抽吸 (TESE)的预测 ,监测放、化疗对男性生精功能的损伤等     

外科取精术在无精子症诊断与治疗中的应用

目的研究外科取精术在无精子症诊断与治疗中的应用价值。方法在诊断为无精子症的、患者中,经睾丸体积测定、血清性激素水平、生殖系统超声等检查后,选择符合条件者198例,在局麻下行外科取精术,对获得组织显微镜下检查,统计分析取精结果。获得的精子行卵胞浆内单精子显微注射术（ICSI）及胚胎移植术（ET）,统计评估受精率、卵裂率、临床妊娠率及流产率。结果其中78例附睾中存在精子（39．4％）,23例睾丸中存在精子（11．6％）。睾丸体积正常的取精成功率明显高于睾丸体积偏小者,有显著性差异（P〈0．01）。血清促卵泡刺激素（FSH）水平正常的取精成功率明显高于FSH增高者,差异有显著性意义（P〈0．01）。82例外科取精术获得精子的患者进行ICSI治疗,附睾取精组与睾丸取精组比较,受精率、卵裂率、临床妊娠率及流产率差异均无统计学意义（P均〉0．05）。结论外科取精术操作简单且创伤较小,能准确鉴别诊断梗阻性无精子症（OA）及非梗阻性无精子症（NOA）,对无精子症的诊断有重要价值;为部分无精子症患者提供了生育自己生物学子代的机会,也是针对无精子症的有效治疗手段。     

Can serum Inhibin B and FSH levels, testicular histology and volume predict the outcome of testicular sperm extraction in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia?

Introduction In our study, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), Inhibin B, testicular volumes and distribution of testicular sperm extraction (TESE) outcome according to the histological diagnosis in men with non-obstructive azoospermia. Materials and methods Between February 2001 and April 2002, 66 men presenting with infertility of at least 1 year were found to have non-obstructive azoospermia. Serum FSH and Inhibin B levels, testicular volumes and pathological analysis were reviewed retrospectively using medical records of these patients. Results Of 66 patients, 52 were enrolled into the study and sperm extraction was successful in 31 of 52 patients (59.6%). There was no statistically significant difference between the patients who had successful and unsuccessful TESE in terms of mean serum Inhibin B, FSH levels and testicular volumes (P > 0.05). The area under ROC analysis for serum Inhibin, serum FSH and testicular volume was 0.557, 0.523 and 0.479, respectively. For Inhibin B, the best cut-off value for discriminating between successful and failed TESE at 90% sensitivity was 6.25 with a very low level of specificity (14%) and diagnostic accuracy that was 53.8. Conclusion Besides the controversies about the direct marker role of serum Inhibin B in determination of spermatogenesis, it does not seem to give a clue about the prediction of sperm presence before TESE. Because of the conflicting results in the literature, the potential role of serum Inhibin B as a marker for prediction of sperm presence in testis is yet to be determined.     

Factores predictivos de recuperación espermática en las azoospermias

IntroductionTesticular sperm extraction with intracytoplasmic sperm injection is the standard treatment for azoospermia. The objective of this study is to identify predictive factors of successful sperm retrieval.Materials and methodsBetween June 2003 and May 2011, we tried testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in 74 azoospermic patients in the Reproductive Medicine Unit of Son Espases Hospital (Palma de Mallorca). Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and inhibin B levels, testicular histology, genetic study, presence or not of cryptozoospermia and testicular volume were examined.ResultsSpermatozoa were successfully recovered in 47.2% of the total patients, in 36% of non-obstructive azoospermic patients and in 100% of obstructive azoospermic patients. Low inhibin B and high FSH were correlated to sperm retrieval failure. The cutoff points were determined using ROC curves that were 67 pg/mL for inhibin B and 12.2 mUI/mL for FSH. Spermatozoa were not successfully retrieved in any patient with Y microdeletions in AZFa,b regions. Spermatozoa were successfully retrieved in 100% of the patients with CFTR mutations. The highest sperm retrieval rate was for hypospermatogenesis, followed by maturation arrest and Sertoli-cell-only. Spermatozoa were successfully retrieved in all cryptozoospermic patients. Although using a non-significant test, there seems to be a correlation between higher testicular volume and a higher probability of successful sperm retrieval.ConclusionsExcept for Y microdeletions in AZFa,b regions, there is no predictive factor of testicular sperm retrieval to rule out a patient for TESE. Lower inhibin B is more related to sperm retrieval failure than higher FSH. Sperm retrieval is possible for all cases of CFTR mutations but in any case of microdeletion Y in AZFa,b. The lack of germ cells is correlated with a high probability of sperm retrieval failure. The presence of cryptozoospermia is correlated with a high probability of sperm retrieval success. We do not find a statistically significant relation between testicular volume and successful sperm retrieval.     

血清抑制素B对非阻塞性无精子症睾丸精子存在的预测价值

目的:探讨血清抑制素B(INHB)对非阻塞性无精子症(NOA)患者睾丸精子存在与否的预测价值。方法:分别对40例NOA、20例阻塞性无精子症(OA)及10例正常生育男性以双抗体夹心ELISA法测定其血清INHB水平。并用化学发光法检测了上述研究对象的卵泡刺激素(FSH)水平。结果:NOA患者的血清FSH[(21.34±12.15)IU/L]明显高于OA组和正常生育男性组[(3.94±1.52)IU/L和(4.27±2.84 IU/L],而血清INHB水平[(53.15±58.74)ng/L]明显低于后两者[(162.49±78.38)ng/L和(228.49±110.68)ng/L]。正常生育男性与OA组患者的血清INHB水平差异无显著性(P>0.05)。NOA患者血清INHB水平与其睾丸精子抽吸(TESE)的结果有相关性(r=0.528,P<0.01)。TESE获得精子者血清INHB水平[(90.31±72.18)ng/L]显著高于TESE无精子者[(19.54±20.38)ng/L,P<0.01];而两者的血清FSH差异无显著性(P>0.05)。结论:血清INHB可作为预测TESE的参考指标。血清INHB的测定有望替代睾丸活检确定睾丸精子的存在与否。     

Seminal plasma anti-Müllerian hormone level correlates with semen parameters but does not predict success of testicular sperm extraction (TESE)

AIM: To assess seminal plasma anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level relationships in fertile and infertile males. METHODS: Eighty-four male cases were studied and divided into four groups: fertile normozoospermia (n = 16), oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (n = 15), obstructive azoospermia (OA) (n = 13) and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) (n = 40). Conventional semen analysis was done for all cases. Testicular biopsy was done with histopathology and fresh tissue examination for testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in NOA cases. NOA group was subdivided according to TESE results into unsuccessful TESE (n = 19) and successful TESE (n = 21). Seminal plasma AMH was estimated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and serum follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) was estimated in NOA cases only by radioimmunoassay (RIA). RESULTS: Mean seminal AMH was significantly higher in fertile group than in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia with significance (41.5 +/- 10.9 pmol/L vs. 30.5 +/- 10.3 pmol/L, P < 0.05). Seminal AMH was not detected in any OA patients. Seminal AMH was correlated positively with testicular volume (r = 0.329, P = 0.005), sperm count (r = 0.483, P = 0.007), sperm motility percent (r = 0.419, P = 0.021) and negatively with sperm abnormal forms percent (r = -0.413, P = 0.023). Nonsignificant correlation was evident with age (r = -0.155, P = 0.414) and plasma FSH (r = -0.014, P = 0.943). In NOA cases, seminal AMH was detectable in 23/40 cases, 14 of them were successful TESE (57.5%) and was undetectable in 17/40 cases, 10 of them were unsuccessful TESE (58.2%). CONCLUSION: Seminal plasma AMH is an absolute testicular marker being absent in all OA cases. However, seminal AMH has a poor predictability for successful testicular sperm retrieval in NOA cases.     

Predictive factors of successful testicular sperm recovery in non-obstructive azoospermia patients

Recovery of testicular spermatozoa from non-obstructive azoospermic patients for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a recent advance in the treatment of male infertility. The purpose of this study is to identify predictive factors for sperm recovery in non-obstructive azoospermic patients. A total of 178 men with non-obstructive azoospermia had multiple testicular sperm extraction (TESE) procedures to recover spermatozoa for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) from June 1996 to February 1999. Testicular volume, serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level and testicular histology were examined as positive predictive factors for sperm recovery. Testis biopsies were categorized as severe hypospermatogenesis, maturation arrest and Sertoli cell-only syndrome based on the most advanced pattern of spermatogenesis seen on histology. Sperm retrieval success rates for the patients in three histopathological categories were compared. Spermatozoa were successfully recovered in 94 of 178 (52.8%) men. Sperm were retrieved in 13 of 80 (16.3%) with Sertoli cell-only syndrome, 15 of 24 (62.5%) with maturation arrest, and 66 out of 74 (89.2%) with severe hypospermatogenesis. Spermatozoa recovery has no correlation with testicular volume or serum FSH level. When compared against Sertoli cell-only syndrome, the odds of sperm retrieval success rate was 44.3 times higher in severe hypospermatogenesis and 8.4 times in maturation arrest. These results demonstrate meaningful correlation between successful testicular sperm recovery and testis histopathology. Only testicular histopathology can be used as a predictor of successful sperm recovery.     

Impact of testicular histopathology as a predictor of sperm retrieval and pregnancy outcome in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia: correlation with clinical and hormonal factors

In this study, our objective was to evaluate the impact of testicular histopathology on the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles of patients with nonobstructive azoospermia and correlate with clinical and hormonal parameters. For this purpose, 271 patients with nonobstructive azospermia (NOA) who underwent testicular sperm extraction (TESE) for ICSI cycles were retrospectively evaluated for sperm retrieval, fertilisation, embryo cleavage, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates among different testicular histology groups. We also correlated hormonal and clinical factors with histological findings. Sperm retrieval and fertilisation rates (FR) were found to be significantly different among all testicular histological groups of NOA except for embryo cleavage, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. Furthermore, serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level was the most significant variable to predict sperm recovery on TESE. Separate analyses within each testicular histological group revealed that higher FSH was also associated with lower pregnancy rates in only maturation arrest group. In conclusion, testicular histology significantly influences sperm retrieval and FRs but not pregnancy and live birth rates in nonobstructive azoospermia. However, FSH is the best predictor of a successful TESE.     

Serum inhibin B as a marker for spermatogenesis

Inhibin B generated by Sertoli cells provides negative feedback on FSH secretion. In men, inhibin B seems to be the physiologically important form of inhibin. Serum inhibin B was measured by two-site immunoenzymatic assay in 40 normal men (27 years of age) with sperm concentrations 100 +/- 9.2 x 10(6)/mL, 51 subfertile men (31 years of age) with sperm concentrations 6.8 +/- 0.8 x 10(6)/mL, 16 men with varicocele with sperm concentrations 54.3 +/- 0.8 x 10(6)/mL (31 years of age), men with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, men with Klinefelter syndrome, and men with obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia. In men with normal sperm concentrations (>20 x 10(6) mL) serum inhibin B was 201 +/- 17 pg/mL and FSH 4 +/- 0.5 IU/L. Varicocele patients showed normal sperm concentrations > 20 x 10(6)/mL, normal serum inhibin B (173 +/- 21 pg/mL), and normal FSH levels (4.6 +/- 0.6 IU/L). In patients with sperm concentrations < 20 x 10(6)/mL the inhibin B level was 118 +/- 14 pg/mL and the FSH level was 10 +/- 1.1 IU/L. In all patients, except those with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and Klinefelter syndrome. inhibin B and FSH were inversely correlated (r = -.41, p > 0.01). There was a positive correlation between inhibin B and sperm concentrations (r = .34, p < .01). In varicocele men there was a correlation of r = .574, p < .05. Inhibin B may be a marker of exocrine testicular function and may offer an improved diagnosis of testicular dysfunction.     

Age as only predictive factor for successful sperm recovery in patients with Klinefelter’s syndrome

The study was performed to determine factors affecting successful sperm retrieval by testicular sperm extraction in patients with nonmosaic Klinefelter’s syndrome (KS). From May 2001 to February 2007, 27 azoospermic patients were diagnosed as having nonmosaic KS. All patients underwent sperm testicular extraction. Patient’s age, testicular volume, serum follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) and inhibin B were assessed as predictive factors for successful sperm recovery. Of the 27 Klinefelter’s patients examined, eight (29.6%) had successful sperm recovery. The comparisons of serum FSH, inhibin B and testicular volume between patients with and without successful sperm retrieval did not show any statistical significance. The patients with successful sperm recovery were significantly younger (28.6 ± 3.11 years) than those with failed attempts (33.9 ± 4.5 years, P = 0.002). The rate of positive sperm retrieval was significantly higher in patients younger than 32 years compared with patients older than 32 years (P = 0.01, chi‐squared test). The study showed that clinical parameters such as FSH, inhibin B and testicular volume do not have predictive value for sperm recovery in patients with KS. The mean age of our patients with successful sperm recovery was significantly lower than that of men with unsuccessful results. Testicular sperm extraction or testicular sperm aspiration should be performed before the critical age of 32 years.     

Testicular fine needle aspiration as a diagnostic tool in non-obstructive azoospermia

Aim： To report the fine needle aspiration cytology （FNAC） of the testes used as a diagnostic tool in non-obstructive azoospermic patients. Methods： One hundred and twenty-five non-obstructive azoospermic male candidates to intracytoplasmic sperm injetion （ICSI） were analysed for follicle stimulating hormone （FSH）, luteinizing hormone （LH）, testosterone and inhibin B plasma levels. They were classified into three groups on the basis of FNAC： 1） Sertoli cell-only syndrome （SCOS） （70）; 2） severe hypospermatogenesis （42）; and 3） maturation arrest （13）, Then, all men underwent testicular sperm extraction （TESE） for sperm recovery for ICSI. Results： Mature spermatozoa were detected by FNAC in 24 of 42 men with severe hypospermatogenesis and nine of 13 men with maturation arrest; while they were retrieved by TESE in 29 of 70 men with SCOS, 35 of 42 men with severe hypospermatogenesis （including the 24 by FNAC） and 10 of 13 men with maturation arrest （including the nine by FNAC）. The sensitivity and specificity of FNAC were 44.6 % and 100 %, respectively. There was no difference on testicular volume and hormonal parameters in men with and without sperm retrieved. Conclusion： These findings suggest that FNAC may be a simple and valid diagnostic parameter in non-obstructive azoospermic men and it may represent a valid positive prognostic parameter for sperm recovery at TESE, （Asian J Androl 2005 Sep; 7： 289-294）