Trophic effects on testes in paraplegics

Paraplegia. 1993 Sep;31(9):576-83. doi: 10.1038/sc.1993.93.

Abstract

Testicular biopsies and hormone profiles were obtained from 23 paraplegic patients who had sustained a complete spinal cord section. The hormone profiles were normal, but patients with a spinal lesion including the T10-L2 metameres showed a particular pattern of germinal cell abnormalities. The atrophy is multifactorial, but may well include destruction of the sympathetic innervation of the testis by the lesion.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Atrophy / pathology
  • Ejaculation / physiology
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / blood
  • Humans
  • Leydig Cells / physiology
  • Male
  • Paraplegia / pathology
  • Paraplegia / physiopathology*
  • Physostigmine
  • Semen / cytology
  • Seminiferous Tubules / pathology
  • Sertoli Cells / physiology
  • Spermatids / physiology
  • Spermatozoa / physiology
  • Testis / pathology
  • Testis / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones
  • Physostigmine