Zur Diagnose und Behandlung der Azoospermie1)

[Carl Posner (1854-1928) : A founder of urology and sexology in Germany]

In this contribution we describe the life and work of the Berlin physician Carl Posner (1854-1928). We present his central role as a member of the founding generation of urology, andrology, and academic sexology in Germany. His clinical work, research and publication illustrate the central role these new disciplines played in the urological field. Finally, we describe how Posner is remembered in the history of urology and sexology.

[Urology and Sexology in Berlin 1880-1933: Original citations for the establishment of this frontier of urology - protagonists as reflected in their publications]

The connections between urology and sexology are often not obvious today. At the end of the 19th century both specialties developed in parallel especially in Berlin and had a fruitful relationship. Urologic journals and books were an ideal forum for publication especially for sexologists.

Variation of spermatogenic and Sertoli cell number detected by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in Iberian red deer during and out of the breeding season

The aim of the present study was to evaluate spermatogenesis in Iberian red deer, a short-day seasonal breeder, using the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) technique. Reports on spermatogenesis in deer are limited and here, for the first time, FNAC has been used to evaluate changes in such physiological process during and out of the breeding season. Testes were collected from 51 stags from November 2010 to February 2011. The Sertoli index and spermatic index were significantly higher during the breeding season than out of the breeding season (P = 0.0477 and P = 0.0125, respectively). A similar pattern was described by histological analysis, in which both Sertoli cell number per tubular cross-section and Johnsen score decreased significantly from the breeding season to the non-breeding season (P = 0.0131 and P = 0.0010, respectively). Data provided by FNAC were correlated with histology: the Sertoli index was positively correlated with Sertoli cell number per tubular cross-section (P = 0.0015), whereas the spermatic index was correlated with the Johnsen score (P = 0.0497). The results of the present study indicate that FNAC is a reliable technique to evaluate spermatogenesis in Iberian red deer and suggest that Sertoli cell number is not stable in these species, reaching highest values during the breeding season.

Diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration cytology in testicular disorders of red deer (Cervus elaphus): a case report

We used fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) to diagnose Sertoli cell-only pattern and hypospermatogenesis in an Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus). Cytologic diagnosis was confirmed by histology and epididymal sperm analysis. We conclude that FNAC can be an important diagnostic tool in testicular diseases of wildlife.