Received January 18, 2006
Accepted February 10, 2006

This was a cross-sectional retrospective study, which assessed the histological integrity of 27 azoospermic patients, who were divided into two groups: those with a obstructive origin (n=11; 40.7%) and those with non-obstructive origin (n=16; 59.3%). The analysis classified the histological findings in 4 categories according to the maximal cellular development achieved: total epithelial hyalinization; presence of Sertoli cells only; presence of primary spermatocytes; presence of elongated spermatids. Samples were classifi ed in three groups based on sperm detection: presence of motile spermatozoa, presence of non-motile spermatozoa and absence of spermatozoa. Only 40% of patients undergoing testicular biopsy presented elongated spermatids and/or spermatozoa, and among patients with non-obstructive azoospermia, 12.5% presented elongated spermatids versus 82% of patients with obstructive azoospermia. As well, the detection of spermatozoa in the biopsy was also correlated with the FHS level. Mean LH levels showed a trend towards a behavior similar to FSH. This work reaffi rms the importance of the plasma level of pituitary gonadotropins in the detection of spermatozoa in testicular biopsies in azoospermic patients. It also reveals that the higher the degree of involvement of the seminiferous epithelium, observed in four categories, the lower is the serum FSH level. Therefore, it is not only a marker for spermatozoa in biopsy, but a marker of the degree of damage to the seminiferous epithelium as well.