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We provide evidence that testicular concretions form exclusively in association with seminiferous cords. Testicular material obtained from 6 patients with various disorders of spermatogenesis was studied by means of light- and electron microscopy. Seminiferous cords in the testes examined form so-called hypoplastic zones. They contain immature Sertoli cells and are surrounded by an unusually thick basal lamina and one or two layers of myofibroblasts. They display extensive coiling and form ring-like structures. Concretions are located at the periphery or in the center of the cords and consist of a hyaline material with an occasional granular core. They are enveloped by Sertoli cells or myofibroblasts. Data presented indicate that concretions may develop within the above-mentioned ring-like structures or in deep indentations of the surrounding connective tissue. Computer-assisted 3-D reconstructions of a seminiferous cord based on 24 serial semithin sections revealed that the majority of concretions communicate with the interstitial tissue through a broad opening comparable to a "meso". On the basis of our observations we could demonstrate that concretions are accumulations of basal lamina that occasionally contain remnants of degenerated myofibroblasts. They form outside the cords and belong to the connective tissue compartment. As the components of the basal lamina are thought to be produced by the interaction of Sertoli cells and myofibroblasts we tentatively assume that the development of concretions reflects a disturbance in this complex interaction. We suggest that the presence of concretions refers to a developmental disorder and may be pathognomonic for the occurrence of defective seminiferous cords.

Summary: Spermatozoa stained with toluidine blue-pyronine can be differentiated very rapid within one hour after liquefaction of the ejaculate. In contrast to the method of Testsimplets® the slides can be stored for record purpose. Furthermore its quality is comparable with the common staining techniques of spermatozoa. Therefore it can be recommended in the routine practice. Toluidinblau-Pyronin-Farbung menschlicher Spermatozoen Eine schnelle Methode zur Differenzierung Zusammenfassung: Die Toluidinblau-Pyronin-Farbung ermoglicht es, Spermatozoen bereits innerhalb einer Stunde zu differenzieren und daruber hinaus - im Gegensatz zum Testsimplet®-Verfahren - die Praparate zu archivieren. Da die Qualitat dieser Methode mit den herkommlichen Farbungen vergleichbar ist, ist sie fur die Routinediagnostik in der andrologischen Praxis geeignet.