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During histological examination of cryptorchid testes, we found nodules of seminiferous tubules consisting of Sertoli cells only. These tubules were surrounded by a thickened basement membrane and many appeared to contain intratubular deposits of basement membrane-like material. The basement membrane-like hyaline material did have some resemblance to Call-Exner bodies, but the resemblance to sex cord tumour with annular tubules (SCTAT) was more striking. It has also been suggested that SCTAT shows Sertoli cell differentiation. Although Sertoli cell proliferation and hyperplasia has been reported in the cryptorchid testis, 1 we describe an unusual form of Sertoli cell proliferation, which is morphologically similar to the recently reported intratubular Sertoli cell proliferations in infantile testes. 2 Therefore, we undertook our study to compare this lesion with SCTAT morphologically, immunohistochemically, and ultrastructurally; to document the presence of these immature foci to prevent misinterpretation as neoplasia; and to distinguish them from intratubular Sertoli cell proliferations, which require more aggressive management.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
During the 14 year study period (1989-2002), 46 orchidectomy specimens of undescended testes were received. Formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded tissue blocks were retrieved from the archives. The histochemical and immunohistochemical characteristics of the hyaline material in Sertoli cell nodules were compared with the basement membrane-like material in a case of SCTAT (courtesy of Professor A Tiltman, Johannesburg, South Africa).
Special stains, including periodic acid Schiff (PAS), PAS-diastase, Martius scarlet blue, Masson trichrome, elastic van Giesson, and immunohistochemistry were performed in all cases. For immunohistochemistry, 3 [micro]m thick sections were cut and mounted on poly-L-lysine coated glass slides (Sigma Diagnostics, St Louis, Missouri, USA). The sections were then heat fixed for 10 minutes at 60°C and dewaxed. Antigen retrieval was achieved by microwave pretreatment (H2500 microwave processor; Energy Beam Sciences Inc, Agawam, Massachusetts, USA) in a 0.01M trisodium citrate (bihydrate) solution (pH 6.0) for 10 minutes at 85°C.
Endogenous peroxidase activity was blocked by incubating sections in an aqueous solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide for 10 minutes. Sections were stained with monoclonal anti-collagen type IV (clone CIV 22, prediluted; Dako, Carpinteria, California, USA) and polyclonal anti-fibronectin (1/800 dilution; Dako A/S, Glostrup, Denmark) using the peroxidase labelled streptavidin-biotin kit (Dako). The reaction was visualised using 3,3[variant prime] diaminobenzidine (liquid DAB; Dako) as a chromogen. Sections were counterstained...