Table 1. Clinical characteristics, serum hormone levels, and intratesticular concentrations of testosterone and its precursors among different testicular histopathological groups.

Characteristic		SCO (n=9)	MA (n=7)	HS (n=16)	NR (n=5)	p-valuea	p-valueb
Age (y)		37 (35.0–38.5)	34.0 (31.0–38.0)	35.0 (32.0–40.5)	33.0 (29.5–47.0)	0.489	0.055
Right testis size (mL)		9.0 (6.5–15.5)	13 (7–20)	7.0 (4.5–10.5)	22.0 (16.5–24.0)	0.108	0.003*
Left testis size (mL)		10.0 (7.5–15.0)	16 (13–20)	8 (5–14)	21.0 (17.0–23.5)	0.120	0.002*
Baseline serum endocrine levels
	FSH (IU/L)	25.6 (14.4–32.6)	12.8 (10.5–15.2)	24.4 (15.7–33.0)	3.6 (2.3–4.3)	0.620	<0.001*
	LH (IU/L)	7.7 (5.8–28.5)	5.8 (5.4–7.2)	12.5 (8.1–15.8)	6.0 (4.0–6.7)	0.373	0.014*
	Testosterone (ng/mL)	3.7 (2.1–6.5)	2.4 (2.1–4.8)	3.7 (2.9–4.6)	3.9 (3.1–4.8)	0.477	0.647
	Prolactin (ng/mL)	11.3 (8.7–12.3)	11.5 (7.5–18.7)	11.5 (8.3–15.5)	8.9 (6.6–16.5)	0.785	0.646
	Estradiol (pg/mL)	22.4 (16.1–31.1)	24.3 (14.0–31.5)	23.9 (15.6–34.0)	26.9 (22.3–31.3)	0.982	0.890
Intratesticular endocrine levels
	Testosterone (ng/mL)	1,812.5 (1,330.8–2,655.1)	2,112.6 (1,115.9–3,178.8)	2,395.7 (1,495.1–3,060.1)	207.5 (151.6–307.8)	0.665	0.002*
	Androstenedione (ng/mL)	7.6 (4.1–10.1)	7.5 (1.8–22.8)	6.8 (4.2–10.8)	1.9 (1.4–2.5)	0.932	0.065
	17-OHP (ng/mL)	15.1 (9.4–23.7)	8.8 (6.8–15.2)	20.4 (12.5–28.4)	1.8 (1.0–2.4)	0.079	<0.001*
	Progesterone (ng/mL)	1.3 (0.2–2.2)	2.1 (0.3–2.8)	1.2 (0.8–2.1)	0.7 (0.6–3.4)	0.731	0.914
	DHEA (ng/mL)	3.4 (1.1–6.7)	10.1 (4.1–13.5)	4.6 (2.0–11.4)	2.0 (2.0–2.2)	0.218	0.156

Values are presented as median (interquartile range).

NR: normal spermatogenesis, HS: hypospermatogenesis, MA: maturation arrest, SCO: Sertoli cell only, FSH: follicle-stimulating hormone, LH: luteinizing hormone, 17-OHP: 17 hydroxyprogesterone, DHEA: dehydroepiandrosterone.

Statistically significant (^*p<0.05).

^aSCO vs. MA vs. HS; ^bSCO vs. MA vs. HS vs. NR.