Fig. 1.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in monocytes, macrophages, and germ cells. a Immunofluorescence for S-protein in testicular parenchyma showing positive germ cells (red arrowhead), monocytes (white arrow), macrophages (orange arrowhead), and Leydig cells (green arrowhead); a’ negative control omitting the primary antibody (scale bars = a 50 μm; a’ 40 μm). b, c TEM images showing infected infiltrative monocytes (mono, arrows); yellow = disrupted cytoplasm of endothelial cells; red boxes = cytoplasmic areas replenished with viral particles; inserts = high magnification of viral particles (Scale bars = g 2 μm; h 200nm). d–f 3D reconstruction of double immunofluorescence for CD68 (w, red color) and S-protein (x, green color), depicting an infected macrophage (y, merge–yellow color) (scale bars = 10μm). g TEM image of an infected macrophage (m) showing a viral particle in its cytoplasm (insert). h Presence of macrophages (arrows) inside the seminiferous tubule (green arrow) and in the interstitial area (red arrow) (scale bar = 10μm). i–l Different types of infected germ cells: i spermatogonial cell (Spg); j pachytene spermatocytes (P); k round spermatids (R); l elongated spermatids (E) (scale bars = 15μm). m–n Immunofluorescence against the S-protein shows that spermatogonial cells (red arrowheads) are more intensely labeled than other germ cells (scale bars = a 30 μm; b 10 μm). o–p TEM images showing viral particles (in low and high magnification) in round spermatids (scale bars = o 2 μm; p 200 nm). Immunofluorescence images in the testis of patient #8. TEM images in testes from patients #1, #7, and #8. Blue = dapi counterstaining; green staining = IgG-CFL 488; red staining = IgG- 546. ST, seminiferous tubule cross-section; IC, intertubular compartment; BV, blood vessel