Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome

A type of male infertility in which no germ cells are visible in any of the biopsied SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES (type I) or in which germ cells are present in a minority of tubules (type II). Clinical features include AZOOSPERMIA, normal VIRILIZATION, and normal chromosomal complement.

Also Known As:

Networked: 170 relevant articles (0 outcomes, 11 trials/studies)

Disease Context: Research Results

Related Diseases

1.	Azoospermia
2.	Atrophy
3.	Seminoma
4.	Leydig Cell Tumor
5.	Hyperplasia

Experts

1.	Bergmann, Martin: 6 articles (01/2017 - 07/2009)
2.	Fietz, Daniela: 5 articles (01/2017 - 07/2009)
3.	Kliesch, Sabine: 5 articles (01/2017 - 07/2009)
4.	Miller, Kurt: 5 articles (01/2006 - 08/2002)
5.	Weidner, Wolfgang: 4 articles (01/2017 - 12/2002)
6.	Schrader, Mark: 4 articles (01/2006 - 08/2002)
7.	He, Zuping: 3 articles (01/2021 - 01/2016)
8.	Li, Zheng: 3 articles (11/2019 - 01/2016)
9.	Yao, Chencheng: 3 articles (11/2019 - 01/2016)
10.	Castro, A: 3 articles (01/2017 - 12/2011)

Drugs and Biologics

Drugs and Important Biological Agents (IBA) related to Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome:

1.	Proteins (Proteins, Gene)FDA Link 11/01/2015 - "PRPS2, a subset of PRS, is reported to be a potential protein associated with Sertoli-cell only syndrome. " 09/01/2010 - "Immunohistological profile of the Ras homologous B protein (RhoB) in human testes showing normal spermatogenesis, spermatogenic arrest and Sertoli cell only syndrome." 10/01/2008 - "Loss of the protein NUPR1 (p8) leads to delayed LHB expression, delayed ovarian maturation, and testicular development of a sertoli-cell-only syndrome-like phenotype in mice." 09/01/2006 - "Western blotting data revealed HSFY in the testicular tissues with normal spermatogenesis, maturation arrest, and Sertoli cell-only syndrome, but the amount of the protein in the maturation arrest and Sertoli cell-only syndrome samples was altered. " 12/01/2004 - "In Western analyses, the anti-D40 antibody recognized a major band with a molecular mass of 300 kDa and a minor band of 250 kDa. These bands were not observed in the testis lysates from patients with Sertoli-cell-only syndrome and with Kleinfelter syndrome, who lack germ cells of the testis, indicating that D40 protein is expressed in the germ cells of normal testis. "
2.	Messenger RNA (mRNA)IBA 01/01/2020 - "In addition, the messenger RNA expression levels of RARA, RARG, RXRA, RXRB, and RXRG were significantly decreased in men with Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) and maturational arrest (MA), but not in men with HYPO. " 01/01/2017 - "Compared with normal spermatogenesis, CBE1 mRNA was statistically significantly reduced in samples with a maturation arrest at the level of round spermatids and primary spermatocytes, and was absent in samples showing Sertoli cell-only syndrome. " 07/01/2014 - "An accurate quantification of testicular mRNA levels of genes expressed in spermatogonia was carried out by RT-qPCR in individuals showing SpF owing to germ cell maturation defects, Sertoli cell-only syndrome or conserved spermatogenesis. " 01/01/2023 - "DDX58 expression promotes inflammation and growth arrest in Sertoli cells by stabilizing p65 mRNA in patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome." 01/01/2013 - "All of these showed significantly lower or even absent mRNA expression in severe disorders of spermatogenesis (arrest at the level of spermatocytes or spermatogonia, Sertoli cell only syndrome). "
3.	Follicle Stimulating Hormone (Follitropin)FDA Link 01/01/2017 - "Pregnancy and live birth after follicle-stimulating hormone treatment for an infertile couple including a male affected by Sertoli cell-only syndrome." 09/01/1990 - "There was elevation of mean follicle stimulating hormone levels in males with maturation arrest (5.8±3.8 lUlL) and Sertoli-cell only syndrome (21.7±3.4 lUlL). " 02/01/1979 - "Serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels in patients with XYY chromosomes were elevated significantly in comparison to those in normal men but lower than those in men with Sertoli cell only syndrome and Klinefelter's syndromes. " 01/01/2018 - "We chose three parameters to perform the meta-analysis: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testicular volume, and testicular histopathological findings which included three patterns: hypospermatogenesis (HS), maturation arrest (MA), and Sertoli-cell-only syndrome (SCOS). " 01/01/2014 - "The serum follicle stimulating hormone level in patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome was significantly higher than in patients with hypospermatogenesis, maturation arrest, and complete spermatogenesis (P < 0.01). "
4.	EnzymesIBA 02/01/1984 - "High enzyme activity was found in fertile subjects which did not significantly differ from those with oligozoospermia and those with the Sertoli cell-only syndrome. " 05/01/1980 - "Studies of GTP in cell-enriched fractions from the testes of rats with germinal cell aplasia indicated that this enzyme is not a Sertoli cell specific marker." 10/01/2010 - "As we previously reported, testes of men suffering from hypospermatogenesis and germ cell arrest or Sertoli cell-only syndrome show a major increase in the number of macrophages expressing interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and abundant expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the inducible isoform of the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins (PGs), in Leydig cells. " 11/01/2006 - "Testicular biopsy evaluation by immunohistochemistry for the expression of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) enzyme and of poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) (an indicator for PARP activity.) The subcellular localization of both markers in testes with full spermatogenesis (obstructive azoospermia), spermatocyte maturation arrest, or Sertoli cell-only syndrome. " 01/01/2021 - "To assess estrogen sulfotransferase (SULT1E1) and steroid sulfatase (STS) mRNA abundance in testicular tissue of patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) and normal tissues, its association with serum and intratesticular hormone levels, and to explore the mRNA and protein testicular localization of both enzymes. "
5.	Protein Isoforms (Isoforms)IBA 09/04/2015 - "In this study, we performed isoform-level gene expression profiling of Y chromosome genes within the azoospermia factor (AZF) regions, their X chromosome counterparts, and few autosomal paralogues in testicular biopsies of 12 men with preserved spermatogenesis and 68 men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) (40 Sertoli-cell-only syndrome (SCOS) and 28 premiotic maturation arrest (MA)). " 09/01/2007 - "Minimal-nill levels of mRNA for either of the CREM activator isoforms were detected in lymphocytes or in gonadal tissues from patients with SCOS (Sertoli Cell Only Syndrome). " 06/01/2008 - "Modified expression of cytoplasmic isocitrate dehydrogenase electrophoretic isoforms in seminal plasma of men with sertoli-cell-only syndrome and seminoma." 01/01/2017 - "Our results show that patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome had significantly elevated COMT expression at the mRNA level, higher COMT immunoreactivity in their seminiferous tubules and increased protein expression of the soluble COMT isoform (S-COMT), whereas patients with maturation arrest had significantly elevated CYP1A1 mRNA levels and higher CYP1A1 immunoreactivity in interstitial space. " 10/01/2010 - "As we previously reported, testes of men suffering from hypospermatogenesis and germ cell arrest or Sertoli cell-only syndrome show a major increase in the number of macrophages expressing interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and abundant expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the inducible isoform of the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins (PGs), in Leydig cells. "
6.	Luteinizing Hormone (Lutropin)FDA LinkGeneric 01/01/1975 - "In order to study the hypophyseal-testicular axis in males with complete absence of germinal epithelium, the urinary total hypophyseal gonadotrophins (HG), urinary follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured by specific bioassays in 12 males with classical Sertoli-cell-only syndrome and compared with HG, FSH, and LH in normal and castrated men. " 11/01/1995 - "Luteinizing hormone, androgens, and PRL plasma levels are of no diagnostic value in predicting any specific spermatogenic pattern, and plasma FSH levels can not be used for diagnosing Sertoli cell only syndrome." 05/12/2023 - "We found that age, testicular volume, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, hypospermatogenesis, Sertoli-cell-only syndrome, and maturation arrest were valuable predictors of salvage microdissection testicular sperm extraction, which will assist andrologists in clinical decision-making and minimize unnecessary injury to patients." 05/12/2023 - "The results were as follows: among non-obstructive azoospermia patients whose first surgery was microdissection testicular sperm extraction, younger patients (standard mean difference: -0.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.55 to -0.01) and those with smaller bilateral testicular volume (standard mean difference: -0.55, 95% CI: -0.95 to -0.15), lower levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (standard mean difference: -0.86, 95% CI: -1.18 to -0.54) and luteinizing hormone (standard mean difference: -0.68, 95% CI: -1.16 to -0.19), and whose testicular histological type was hypospermatogenesis (odds ratio: 3.52, 95% CI: 1.30-9.53) were more likely to retrieve spermatozoa successfully, while patients with Sertoli-cell-only syndrome (odds ratio: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.24-0.73) were more likely to fail again in salvage microdissection testicular sperm extraction. " 06/01/1977 - "Germinal cell aplasia: response of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone to LH/FSH-releasing hormone with histopathologic correlation."
7.	Inhibins (Inhibin)IBA 02/01/2019 - "The level of inhibin expression in the cytoplasm of spermatogonia was 4.0 ± 0.22 in control group of fertile men, while it was significantly increased in patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome with focal spermatogenesis (45.0 ± 0.44). " 05/01/1999 - "Although the men with Sertoli-cell-only syndrome had significantly lower levels ((15.83 +/- 12.2) pg ml-1) than those with normal spermatogenesis ((183.8 +/- 112.3) pg ml-1), a distinction between patients with hypospermatogenesis from those with normal spermatogenesis was not possible on the basis of inhibin levels. " 08/01/2005 - "Expression of inhibin alpha, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and stem cell factor in Sertoli cell-only syndrome: relation to successful sperm retrieval by microdissection testicular sperm extraction." 01/01/1995 - "Immunocytochemical studies revealed the presence of various hypophysial-pituitary-intestinal hormones, viz., FSH, inhibin, arginine vasopressin (AVP), calcitonin, serotonin, oxytocin, adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), gastrin, secretin, and somatostatin in human testicular biopsies exhibiting normal spermatogenesis, Sertoli-cell-only syndrome, spermatogenic arrest, Leydig cell hyperplasia, Leydig cell tumor, and seminoma. "
8.	Histones (Histone)IBA 09/01/2018 - "An association study of the single-nucleotide polymorphism c190C>T (Arg64Cys) in the human testis-specific histone variant, H3t, of Japanese patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome." 12/01/2003 - "Misregulation of histone acetylation in Sertoli cell-only syndrome and testicular cancer."
9.	Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins (Growth Factors)IBA 01/01/2019 - "In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of fibroblast growth factor-5 (FGF5), a novel growth factor downregulated in Sertoli cells from Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) patients compared to Sertoli cells from obstructive azoospermia (OA) patients, on SSCs. "
10.	Vitamin A (Retinol)FDA LinkGeneric 02/01/1979 - "To study the effects of seminiferous tubule damage on Leydig cell function and morphology, rats were treated by fetal irradiation (to induce Sertoli cell-only syndrome, SCO), 3 months administration of hydroxyurea (HU), or chronic feeding of a vitamin A-deficient diet (VAD). "

Therapies and Procedures

1.	Radiotherapy 08/01/2003 - "In 414 cases, azoospermia was caused by impaired spermatogenesis resulting from maldescended testes, chemotherapy/radiotherapy, or by Sertoli-cell-only syndrome, genetic disorders or unknown aetiology. " 01/01/2003 - "In 487 cases the underlying cause of azoospermia was an impaired spermatogenesis, following maldescensus testis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or caused by Sertoli-cell-only syndrome, a genetic disorder or an unknown etiology. " 01/01/2020 - "However, testicular radiotherapy might result in infertility and 'Sertoli-cell only' syndrome because of radiation-induced destruction of germ cells as well as Leydig cell insufficiency in 20% of all patients leading to life-long androgen substitution. "
2.	Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) 01/01/2013 - "We aimed to investigate sperm retrieval rates (SRR) by testicular sperm extraction (TESE), factors affecting SRR, and fertilization rate (FR), implantation rate (IR), clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR) in patients with presumed Sertoli-cell-only syndrome in testis biopsy (SCOS). " 01/01/2021 - ": CPR: clinical pregnancy rate; 2PN%: two pronuclei % fertilisation rate; ICSI: intracytoplasmic sperm injection; NOA: non-obstructive azoospermia; OA, obstructive azoospermia; SCO: Sertoli cell-only syndrome; (micro-)TESE: (microsurgical) testicular sperm extraction."
3.	Vasectomy (Vas Occlusion) 08/01/2009 - "Twenty healthy males of proven fertility underwent a vasectomy procedure and four infertile patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS). " 01/01/2017 - "Fertile post-vasectomy men (N = 57) and patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome (N = 13) and obstructive azoospermia (N = 36) had undetectable levels of TEX101 (≤0.5 ng/mL). "
4.	Lasers (Laser) 10/01/2014 - "RT-PCR after laser-assisted microdissection of tubular and interstitial compartments from normal and Sertoli cell only syndrome testes plus in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses of the same samples demonstrated that there is very low expression of ERα in germ cells and in single interstitial cells, very high expression of ERβ in germ cells and Sertoli cells and high expression of GPER in interstitial cells and less in Sertoli cells. " 12/01/2011 - "In 33 testes of 32 patients showing different histological pictures ranging from normal spermatogenesis, hypospermatogenesis to severe spermatogenetic impairment such as maturation arrest, Sertoli cell only Syndrome (SCO) and mixed atrophy, CAG repeat length was assessed in lymphocyte DNA, DNA/mRNA from testis homogenate and in mRNA of AR expressing Sertoli cells within the seminiferous tubules, and interstitial Leydig cells collected by the laser-assisted cell picking. "
5.	Drug Therapy (Chemotherapy) 08/01/2003 - "In 414 cases, azoospermia was caused by impaired spermatogenesis resulting from maldescended testes, chemotherapy/radiotherapy, or by Sertoli-cell-only syndrome, genetic disorders or unknown aetiology. " 01/01/2003 - "In 487 cases the underlying cause of azoospermia was an impaired spermatogenesis, following maldescensus testis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or caused by Sertoli-cell-only syndrome, a genetic disorder or an unknown etiology. "