[Light and electron microscope studies of the morphology of A spermatogonia in men with normal spermatogenesis and in patients treated with antiandrogens]

Based on cytological criteria, three types of A-Spermatogonia may be distinguished in the germinal epithelium of normal men. Cells belonging to Type I conform to A pale spermatogonia and those classified as Type II conform to A dark-spermatogonia according to Clermont ()963). Type III-spermatogonia do not meet the criteria set up by Clermont. Quantitative analysis of the germinal epithelium of two normal men indicates that 50% of the A-spermatogonia may be classified as Type I, 20% as Type II and 30% as Type III-spermatogonia. Type II-spermatogonia appear preferentially reduced in men treated with antiandrogens. In one of the two cases, Type I-spermatogonia were found to have increased to as much as 88%. At the same time, Type III-spermatogonia appeared to have decreased to 12%. Thus, Type II-cells were eliminated from the germinal epithelium. Long-term treatment with antiandrogens also altered the morphology of organelles in the spermatogonia. Based on these findings, a new concept concerning the sequence of events in the spermatogoniogenesis is advanced.