Appearance of spermatozoon after administration of mast cell blocker to a patient with azoospermia.

Since a close relationship has been suggested to exist between testicular disfunction and the increased mast cells in the testis, we used a mast cell blocker for the treatment of patients with idiopathic infestility. An infertile male with idiopathic azoospermia was treated with administration of a mast cell blocker, tranilast for one year. The patient was found to have sperm within his ejaculate. However, the ultimate goal of pregnancy was not achieved by the microfertilization technique. To evaluate the possible significance of this new treatment, further basic research will be needed to clarify the relationship between mast cell proliferation and impaired testicular function.