To quantify, through stereological and morphometric analysis, spermatogenesis in rats undergoing the natural aging process. Methods: Seventy-two male Wistar rats were divided into 6 equal groups according to age at the time of killing: 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months. All the rats were subjected orchiectomy and collection of testicular parenchymal fragments for histological and morphometric analysis. The numerical density of spermatids was calculated using a stereological study, and morphometric analysis was conducted to measure the height of the germinal epithelium and the area of the seminiferous tubules. Results: We found that the 18 and 24 months groups showed a significant reduction in the number of round spermatids. However, the height of the germinal epithelium was not significantly different between the groups. The area of seminiferous tubules was also significantly reduced in the elderly rats compared to that in the young ones. Conclusion: Aging of rats showed a significant reduction in the number of round spermatids and the area of the seminiferous tubules, more pronounced in the rats at 18 and 24 months of life.

Purpose: To analyze the effects of aging in rats on the nuclear volume, cytoplasmic volume, and total volume of Leydig cells, as well as their number. Methods: Seventy-two Wistar rats were divided into six subgroups of 12 rats, which underwent right orchiectomy at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months of age. The weight and volume of the resected testicles were assessed. A stereological study of Leydig cells was conducted, which included measurements of cell number and nuclear, cytoplasmic, and total cell volumes. Results: The weight and volume of the resected testicles showed reductions with age. Only the subgroup composed of 24-month old rats showed a decrease in the nuclear volume of Leydig cells. Significant reductions in the cytoplasmic volume and total volume of Leydig cells were observed in 18-and 24-month old rats. The number of Leydig cells did not vary significantly with age. Conclusions: Aging in rats resulted in reduction of the nuclear, cytoplasmic, and total cell volumes of Leydig cells. There was no change in the total number of these cells during aging.

A mother and two children with trichodysplasia, hypodontia, onychodysplasia (not present in the mother), mild skin alterations, bilateral inward deflection of the 4th toes, and other findings are described. This is an ectodermal dysplasia of the tricho‐odonto‐onychial subgroup probably due to an autosomal dominant gene.

The available literature does not provide any questionnaire to evaluate sexual function after male to female (MtF) gender reassignment surgery (GRS). The assessment of sexual function in these patients is routinely performed by using tools designed for biological women, such as Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Such a limit leads to a suboptimal evaluation, especially in domains like lubrication and dyspareunia. Moreover, FSFI scores in MtF patients often are similar to those observed in nontranssexual women with sexual dysfunction. We aim at developing validate new questionnaire, the operated Male to Female Sexual Function Index (oMtFSFI) in order to assess sexual function in patients who underwent MtF GRS. METHODS: A panel of experts in gender dysphoria defined salient content areas to be explored. Ten MtF patients were administered the questionnaire in order to check its face validity. Their suggestions helped the expert revising the initial version. The revised oMtFSFI questionnaire presents 18 items and was applied in the present study. oMtFSFI with FSFI, Back Depression Inventory II and SF-36 questionnaires were web-based administered to 125 operated MtF patients, recruited during follow-up visits in 7 italian centres and to 80 women who provided self-ratings. The MtF participants completed oMtFSFI twice, three to four weeks apart. RESULTS: 65 MtF and 57 women completed the study. The two groups did not differ in their age (mean 38.5 SD 9.3 versus 37.7 SD 11.5 years old) or in their present vs not sexual activity in the last month (p[0.18). MtFs underwent GRS up to 19 years before (mean 5.1). Principal component analysis performed on the self-ratings provided by MtFs yielded a 3-domain structure (accounting for the 68.7% of the total variance): Sexual Dissatisfaction, Sexual Pain and Genital self-image. The same structure emerged when data from the whole group were analysed. For MtFs, Cronbach Alphas ranged from 0.64 to 0.93 for the three domains. After controlling for age and years from surgery, clear convergent associations with FSFI scales were found for Sexual Dissatisfaction and Sexual Pain but not for Genital Self-image; BDI did not account for additional variance. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the reliability and psychometric validity of the oMtFSFI in the assessment of key dimensions of transsexual women sexual function. Further studies are needed to develop a diagnostic cutoff scores for a potential classification of operated MtF's sexual dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Chronic use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) might impact cardiovascular (CV) risk. Clinical trials for recently approved TRTs have shown impacts on blood pressure (BP) that led to an increase anti-hypertensive dose or new starts: e.g., Xyosted (10% of patients in a 1-year study) and Jatenzo (7.2% in a 4-month study). Here we present the effect of oral testosterone undecanoate (TLANDO, a novel prodrug of bioidentical testosterone) on BP and CV risk including Framingham Risk Score (FRS), and dipping patterns. The objective was to assess the impact of TLADO treatment on BP and CV risk in hypogonadal men.METHODS: Assessment of BP was conducted in a 16-week, multicenter, open-label, single arm ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) study in hypogonadal men (N[138). A fixed dose of 225 mg TLANDO was given BID orally for 16 weeks. 24-hr mean changes from baseline (CBL) of BP were measured and analyzed. Subgroup analysis of systolic blood pressure (SBP) CBL was performed in subjects categorized as low, moderate, or high CV FRS risk at baseline (BL). Dipping was also measured. Dipping was categorized as reverse dipper (<0%), non-dipper (0-10%), dipper (10-20%), and extreme dipper (!20%).RESULTS: Demographics were 53.8 AE10.2 yrs, BMI 33.1 AE5.8 kg/m 2 , 79% white ethinicity. Co-morbidities were obesity (30%), type 2 diabetes (24%) and hypertension (48%). 126 subjects completed the study and 118 subjects had valid 24-hr evaluable ABPM data at both baseline and EOS. Overall, T was well tolerated with no death, no drug related SAEs, and no major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). 1.4% of subjects either had an increase in anti-hypertensive medication dose or started a new medication with T treatment. 24-hr mean (95% CI) SBP CBL was 3.8 AE2.1 mmHg. 25 subjects had SBP>140 mmHg at BL and their 24-hr mean SBP CBL was -3.4 mmHg. Among them, 8 (32%) subjects were normalized post-treatment. Based on FRS categories at BL, 40 (33.9%), 74 (62.7%), and 4 (3.4%) subjects were at low, moderate and high risk, respectively. 24-hr mean SBP CBL for low, moderate, and high-risk subjects was 2.6, 4.8, and -1.8 mmHg, respectively. Post TLANDO treatment, shifts from less dippers at BL to greater dippers at EOS were slightly higher (or comparable with the opposite shifts) implying lower all-cause mortality.CONCLUSIONS: Marginal increases in BP, the dipping shifts, and the FRS with TLANDO treatment does not appear to have a meaningful impact on CV risk.

of T-dose). Stepwise multivariate Cox regression models revealed fundamental differences in inter-individual effects: hazard ratios for loss of BMI/WC were significantly higher in those subjects with younger age, lower baseline T and higher ratios of delta testosterone over delta estradiol levels induced by treatment (all p<0.01). Advanced age, higher baseline BMI and higher delta estradiol levels resulted in significantly higher hazard ratios for prostate growth/increase in PSA or hematocrit (all p<0.01). Overall, effects were attenuated, but still significant, in subjects with androgen receptor gene CAG repeat length >24, in those with KS or men with non-classical hypogonadism (using non-KS primary hypogonadism as referent, all p<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Major new findings regarding effects and safety of T substitution in hypogonadal men are provided. This longterm registry on T substitution in hypogonadal men of a wide age-range demonstrates a decrement of weight, factors influencing cardiovascular health and a low, manageable amount of risk factors. Effects are modulated by diagnosis, age and genetic background.