Expression of Selected Markers in Immunohistochemical Diagnosis of Canine and Human Testicular Tumours

Abstract Immunohistochemical profiles of the most common canine testicular tumours, including the Leydig cell tumours, seminomas, and Sertoli cell tumours were analysed, and the results were compared with those obtained in the corresponding types of human testicular neoplasms. The expressions of vimentin, von Willebrand factor (FVIII), chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and MCM3 were quantified. In the case of Sertoli cell tumours, only canine ones were analysed, since this type of tumour is very rarely diagnosed in men. The expression of the analysed proteins in the testicular tumours was similar. The von Willebrand factor exhibited the strongest expression in Leydig cell tumours in dogs and men, while vimentin was expressed more strongly in dogs (96.7% had an intensity at +++) than in men (62.5% had +++) in the Leydigioma. The immunoexpression of MCM3 in seminomas was high in both men and dogs – 90% +++ and 100% +++ respectively. The lack of chromogranin A and synaptophysin was observed in almost 100% of seminomas in men and dogs. This differed from the results obtained for Leydigioma, where chromogranin A was expressed in 70% of dogs at +++ and in 100% of men at ++++. The results may indicate that the antibodies were selected correctly. Their analysis and interpretation provides valuable information concerning the nature of the studied tumours.

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Spermatogenesis and testicular tumours in ageing dogs

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/reprod/120.2.443 ◽

2000 ◽

pp. 443-452 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

MA Peters ◽

DG de Rooij ◽

KJ Teerds ◽

I van Der Gaag ◽

FJ van Sluijs

Keyword(s):

Sertoli Cell ◽

Leydig Cell ◽

Seminiferous Tubules ◽

Score System ◽

Testicular Tumours ◽

Severe Impairment ◽

Per Se ◽

Testicular Disease ◽

Sertoli Cell Tumours ◽

Leydig Cell Tumours

Spermatogenesis was examined in testes from 74 dogs of various breeds without clinically detected testicular disease. A modified Johnsen score system was used to determine whether spermatogenesis deteriorates with ageing. The diameter of seminiferous tubules was measured in dogs without testicular disease to examine other possible effects of ageing on tubular performance. There appeared to be no relation between age and these variables. The influence of testicular tumours on spermatogenesis was also investigated in both affected and unaffected testes. The testes of 28 dogs with clinically palpable tumours and 21 dogs with clinically non-palpable tumours were investigated. In cases of unilateral occurrence of a tumour, impairment of spermatogenesis was observed only in the affected testis of dogs with clinically detected tumours. Bilateral occurrence of tumours, whether detected clinically or non-clinically, was associated with severe impairment of spermatogenesis. The prevalence of tumours increased during ageing. Eighty-six per cent of the clinically detected and 57% of the non-clinically detected tumours were found in old dogs. Multiple types of tumour and bilateral occurrence were very common. Seminomas and Leydig cell tumours were more frequent than Sertoli cell tumours. It was concluded that spermatogenesis per se did not decrease during ageing in dogs but the occurrence of testicular tumours increased with ageing and affected spermatogenesis significantly, as reflected by a lower Johnsen score.

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Use of antibodies against LH receptor, 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and vimentin to characterize different types of testicular tumour in dogs

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/rep.0.1210287 ◽

2001 ◽

pp. 287-296 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

MA Peters ◽

KJ Teerds ◽

I van der Gaag ◽

DG de Rooij ◽

FJ van Sluijs

Keyword(s):

Sertoli Cell ◽

Leydig Cell ◽

Leydig Cells ◽

Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase ◽

Histological Diagnosis ◽

Lh Receptor ◽

Testicular Tumours ◽

Sertoli Cell Tumours ◽

Mixed Tumours ◽

Leydig Cell Tumours

Testicular tumours in dogs are of Sertoli cell, Leydig cell or germinal origin and mixed tumours are also frequently observed. The cellular components of mixed tumours are usually identified by histological examination but sometimes this is difficult. In this study, a panel of specific antibodies was used to identify the different cell types in testicular tumours by immunohistochemistry. Leydig cells were identified using an antibody against the LH receptor and an antibody against the steroidogenic enzyme 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD), both of which are characteristic of Leydig cells in testes. Sertoli cells were identified using an antibody against the intermediate filament vimentin. Seminoma cells did not stain with any of these antibodies. Vimentin was used only in histologically complex cases. Eighty-six tumours, diagnosed histologically as 29 Sertoli cell tumours, 25 Leydig cell tumours, 19 seminomas and 13 mixed tumours, were studied. Feminization was observed in 17 dogs. Leydig cell tumours stained positively with the antibodies against the LH receptor and 3beta-HSD, whereas seminomas and Sertoli cell tumours were negative (unstained). The antibody against vimentin stained both Sertoli and Leydig cells, and tumours arising from these cells, but not seminomas. Immunohistochemistry revealed that three tumours identified histologically as Sertoli cell tumours were actually Leydig cell tumours. In 14 dogs the histological diagnosis appeared to be incomplete, as mixed tumours instead of pure types of tumours were identified in 11 dogs, and in three dogs mixed tumours appeared to be pure types. Hence, the histological diagnosis was insufficient in approximately 20% of dogs. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis of testis tumours revealed that feminization occurred in dogs with Sertoli cell tumours or Leydig cell tumours and their combinations, but not in dogs with a seminoma. In conclusion, incubation with antibodies against LH receptor and 3beta-HSD proved to be a consistently reliable method for identification of Leydig cell tumours in dogs. Vimentin can be used to discriminate between Sertoli cell tumours and seminomas. Overall, this panel of antibodies can be very useful for determination of the identity of testicular tumours in which histological characterization is complicated and the pathogenesis of feminization is not clear.

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NEW VIEWS ON THE HORMONE-PRODUCING MESENCHYMOMAS OF THE OVARIES

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.xxxv0513 ◽

1960 ◽

Vol XXXV (IV) ◽

pp. 513-517

Author(s):

W. P. Plate

Keyword(s):

Granulosa Cell ◽

Sertoli Cell ◽

Leydig Cell ◽

Cell Tumour ◽

Theca Cell ◽

Granulosa Cell Tumour ◽

Sertoli Cell Tumours ◽

Leydig Cell Tumours

ABSTRACT The hormone-producing mesenchymomas of the ovaries can be divided into androblastomas and gynaecoblastomas. The former are derived from »male« elements, and consist of Sertoli-cell tumours and Leydig-cell tumours. The latter arise from »female« elements and consist of granulosacell tumours and theca-cell tumours. Sertoli-cell tumours and granulosacell tumours produce oestrogens, while Leydig-cell tumours and theca-cell tumours produce oestrogens or androgens. Histologically, androblastomas and gynaecoblastomas are often difficult to distinguish. Since no »female« elements occur in a testicle, a granulosa-cell tumour in a testicle is improbable. Gynandroblastomas, therefore, can only be found in an ovary.

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Ageing, testicular tumours and the pituitary-testis axis in dogs

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/joe.0.1660153 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 166 (1) ◽

pp. 153-161 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

MA Peters ◽

FH de Jong ◽

KJ Teerds ◽

DG de Rooij ◽

SJ Dieleman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sertoli Cell ◽

Leydig Cell ◽

Venous Blood ◽

Cell Tumour ◽

Age Related ◽

Sertoli Cell Tumour ◽

Leydig Cell Tumour ◽

Sertoli Cell Tumours ◽

Leydig Cell Tumours ◽

Age Related Changes

Dogs of different ages without testicular diseases were evaluated to study possible age-related changes in hormone concentrations in serum. Dogs with testicular tumours were also investigated to study the relation between tumour type and hormone concentrations; in this study, dogs with Sertoli cell tumours, Leydig cell tumours and seminomas were included. We measured testosterone, oestradiol, LH, FSH and inhibin-like immunoreactivity concentrations in peripheral venous and testicular venous blood of these animals. In normal dogs there appeared to be no age-related changes in the concentrations of the investigated hormones, except for a significant age-related decrease in oestradiol concentrations in testicular venous blood (P<0.02). Dogs with a Sertoli cell tumour had greater oestradiol concentrations and inhibin-like immunoreactivity in both peripheral and testicular venous blood than did dogs without a neoplasm (P<0. 05). Testosterone concentrations were reduced in dogs with Sertoli cell tumours, as were FSH and LH. Feminisation occurred in eight of 13 dogs with a Sertoli cell tumour and in two of 14 dogs with a Leydig cell tumour; it was accompanied by a significantly greater oestradiol concentration than in normal dogs and in dogs with Sertoli cell tumours without signs of feminisation. Dogs with a Leydig cell tumour had greater concentrations of oestradiol and inhibin-like immunoreactivity in both peripheral venous and testicular venous blood than did dogs without a neoplasm (P<0.05). The testosterone concentration in testicular venous blood of these dogs was lower than that in dogs with normal testes. The concentration of LH in peripheral venous blood was also reduced (P<0. 05). Hormone concentrations in dogs with a seminoma were not different from those in normal dogs. It was concluded that seminomas are not endocrinologically active. In contrast, both Sertoli cell tumours and Leydig cell tumours can cause increased oestrogen production leading to signs of feminisation. These tumours also have considerable amounts of inhibin-like immunoreactivity, but only in Sertoli cell tumours does this result in a reduction in FSH concentrations, suggesting that Sertoli cell tumours secrete dimeric inhibin, whereas Leydig cell tumours presumably produce loose alpha-subunits that cross-react in the inhibin assay but are not biologically active.

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