Objective
Management of cryptorchidism is typically recommended within the first 18 months of life to maximize fertility potential. However, there is a paucity of longitudinal postoperative data for ...Chinese infants. We aim to evaluate the Testicular function change when the procedure is done within the first year of life.
Method
We prospectively enrolled 51 children diagnosed with unilateral inguinal cryptorchidism into the surgical group between January 2021 and January 2022. Orchidopexy was carried out through a single transverse scrotal incision. Assessments of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), inhibin B (InhB), testosterone (T) levels, testicular volume and testicular atrophy index (TAI) were conducted at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year following surgery. Concurrently, clinical data from 42 healthy age-matched controls were collected during their routine physical examinations.
Results
At 6- and 12-months post-surgery, testicular volume increased significantly to 0.98 ± 0.12 mL and 1.01 ± 0.12ml. AMH levels also rose from 76.40 ± 15.77 ng/mL to 81.52 ± 15.32 ng/mL and 87.50 ± 15.36 ng/mL. However, these parameters are significantly lower than age-matched healthy controls (both
P
< 0.001). InhB levels significantly increased after surgery and even surpassed those of healthy controls after 6 months (both
P
< 0.001). The TAI was 16.7% and 8.6% at 6- and 12-months following surgery.
Conclusion
Although orchiopexy can improve testicular growth and function, the restoration of testicular function to the level of healthy peers might take longer. To expedite the recovery of testicular function and bring it in line with that of peers, we recommend addressing cryptorchidism at the earliest opportunity.
Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a kind of environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs), which has been confirmed to cause serious consequences, such as cryptorchidism. Patients with unilateral ...cryptorchidism still had oligospermia or infertility even if they received orchidopexy before puberty. Testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS) attributes this kind of problems to the abnormal testicular development during the embryonic period, and considers that the environmental exposure factors during pregnancy play a major role. Therefore, for unilateral cryptorchidism, even if one testicle has dropped to scrotum, it may be exposed to these substances and cause damage. Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conduction regulator (CFTR) is very important for the maturation of male reproductive system. Previously, cryptorchidism was thought to cause abnormal expression of heat sensitive protein CFTR in testis, but the expression of CFTR in healthy side (descended side) testis was not clear. In this study, we established SD rats with unilateral cryptorchidism by exposure to DEHP (500 mg/kg/day) during pregnancy, and detected the expression of CFTR and downstream signal NF-κB/COX-2/PGE2 in bilateral testis. Finally, we found that the expression of CFTR and downstream signal NF-κB/COX-2/PGE2 in the undescended testis was significantly abnormal, but the expression of them in the descended testis was also abnormal to some extent. Therefore, we speculate that in addition to high temperature will affect the expression of CFTR, there may be other factors that cause abnormal expression of CFTR induced by DEHP, and lead to abnormal male reproductive function eventually, but the specific mechanism needs to be further studied.
BACKGROUND: Cryptorchidism, one or both hidden testes, is the most common abnormality of male sexual development. Subfertility or infertility is associated with both unilateral and bilateral ...cryptorchidism. In this study, we investigate the possible ameliorative effect of curcumin (Cur) on the induced-unilateral cryptorchidism testicular injury in both cryptorchid (Cryp) and non-cryptorchid (non-Cryp) scrotal testes through histological, immunohistochemical and morphometrics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult male albino rats were divided into: control group, Cur control group, Cryp group, and Cryp+Cur group. The rat model was surgically established by fixing the left testis in the abdomen. The treated groups were subjected to surgically induced-unilateral cryptorchidism on the left side then were given Cur (80 mg/kg) orally, for 20 days. Histological analysis using haematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid Schiff’s reaction was done. Immunohistochemistry was performed for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA); to estimate the proliferation in the germinal epithelium, and vimentin; to evaluate Sertoli cells. The results were confirmed by statistical evaluation of the spermatogenic epithelium height, the seminiferous tubules diameter, the basement membrane thickness, the number of PCNA immunostained cells and the area per cent of vimentin immunostaining. RESULTS: Distorted seminiferous tubules, substantial degeneration of the germinal epithelium, thickening of the basement membrane with a significant decrease in PCNA and vimentin immunostaining were observed in Cryp group; mainly in the cryptorchid testis. These structural changes were significantly reversed in Crypt+Cur group. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin proved to be an important and effective medical line for protecting against the unfavourable sequels of cryptorchidism in a rat model.
Glucose is essential for testicular function; the uptake of carbohydrate-derived glucose by cells is mediated by glucose transporters (GLUTs). In the present study, we investigated the activity of ...GLUT1 and GLUT3, the two main isoforms of GLUTs found in testes, in the left scrotal and right abdominal testes of a German Shepherd dog. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that GLUT1 immunoreactivity was absent in the scrotal and abdominal testes. In contrast, weak to moderate GLUT3 immunoreactivity was observed in mature spermatocytes as well as spermatids in the scrotal testis. In the abdominal testis, relatively strong GLUT3 immunoreactivity was detected in Leydig cells only and was absent in mature spermatocytes and spermatids. GLUT3 immunoreactivity was significantly decreased in the tubular region of abdominal testis and significantly increased in the extra-tubular (interstitial) region of abdominal testis compared to observations in the each region of scrotal testis, respectively. These results suggest that GLUT3 is the major glucose transporter in the testes and that abdominal testes may increase the uptake of glucose into interstitial areas, leading to an increased risk of developing cancer.
Descending of the testes is an important process for spermatogenesis and cryptorchidism is one of the most relevant genital defects in dogs. In a previous study, we observed abnormal morphology and ...proliferation of Sertoli cells in a cryptorchid testis. In the present study, we investigated the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the normal and cryptorchid testis of a dog. Elective orchidectomy was performed on the dog's abdominal right testis (undescended, cryptorchid) and scrotal left testis (descended, normal). In the normal testis, estrogen receptor α immunoreactivity was detected in Leydig cells alone, while estrogen receptor α immunoreactivity in the cryptorchid testis was significantly prominent in the Sertoli cells as well. In addition, progesterone receptor immunoreactivity in the control testis was detected in the spermatids, but was not detected in the cryptorchid testis. This result suggests that unilateral cryptorchidism causes increases of estrogen receptor α expression in Sertoli cells.
Fertility of unilateral cryptorchid Sahel buck in uncontrolled breeding depends on sperm output of the scrotal testis. Semen evaluation and testicular and epididymal sperm head counts of cryptorchid ...and normal bucks were carried out at comparable age, body weight and testicular size. Mean semen volume and sperm cell count of the cryptorchids were not different from those of normal bucks, but the percentage of sperm cell abnormalities in semen was higher than normal consisting of narrow and big sperm heads, bent mid-piece, curved tails and tailless heads. Scrotal testes and epididymides of the cryptorchids had comparable mean size parameters and sperm head counts as those of the normal bucks. In conclusion, the scrotal testis of the cryptorchid produces as much sperm as the testis of the normal buck, but probably contributes more sperm to the ejaculate than normal with increased sperm cell abnormalities that may reduce fertility of the cryptorchid.
One of the therapeutic options in the treatment of cryptorchidism is hormonal therapy with luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) and/or human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG); concerns have, ...however, been raised regarding its safety. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that hormonal therapy improves the abnormal histology of the contralateral descended testis without harming the germ cells.
Patients with unilateral cryptorchidism were randomized into two groups: those treated with orchiopexy alone and those treated with LHRH long acting analog and HCG. Biopsies taken from contralateral descended testes were analyzed and compared with controls.
The number of germ cells per tubule in contralateral testes of patients treated with orchiopexy alone is significantly lower than the number of germ cells in testes of patients with spontaneously descended testes (
P
<
0.0001). Hormonal therapy did not have any adverse effect upon the histology of the contralateral testis, but in fact improved it. Seven weeks of hormonal therapy induced a rise in the number of germ cells per tubule (
P
<
0.05). It was also beneficial for the number of adult dark spermatogonia per tubule and the number of primary spermatocytes, although these differences did not reach statistical significance.
The contralateral testis in patients with unilateral cryptorchidism is abnormal. Hormonal therapy improves the histopathology of the contralateral testis without harming the germ cells.
This study was performed to investigate histological structure, expressions of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ), androgen receptor (AR) and proliferation marker (Ki-67 protein) in scrotal and abdominal ...testicular tissues of unilateral cryptorchidism prepubertal boars. Testicular tissues were obtained from 8 unilateral cryptorchidism boars. Immunohistochemical staining for ERβ, AR and Ki-67 protein was performed by avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method. The similar histological structure of both scrotal and abdominal testicular tissues was observed. Immunolocalization of Ki-67 was found in the nuclei of germ cells, interstitial cells and Sertoli cells of both scrotal and abdominal testicular tissues. For ERβ and AR, the immunolocalization was found in germ cells and interstitial cells of both scrotal and abdominal testicular tissues. Based on the statistical analysis, the ERβ expression in the interstitial area of scrotal testis was significantly higher than in the abdominal testis. A tendency of more expressions of Ki-67 protein (p=0.40) in the seminiferous tubule of the scrotal testicular tissues than in the abdominal testicular tissues was found. The expressions of AR in scrotal and abdominal testicular tissues were not significantly different. In conclusion, the histological structures of scrotal and abdominal testis of unilateral cryptorchidism boars are not different. However, there are differences in their immunolocalization patterns between the scrotal and abdominal testis as well as seminiferous tubules and interstitial areas. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
To investigate the influence of unilateral cryptorchidism on the levels of serum anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B in children.
We enrolled 65 patients with unilateral cryptorchidism and 45 ...healthy children in this study. We measured the length and circumference of the penis, the testis volume in the cryptorchidism side, and the levels of serum AMH and inhibin B at the age of 6 and 12 months, respectively.
Compared with the healthy controls, the patients with unilateral cryptorchidism showed significant decreases at 12 months in serum AMH (［108.06±12.40］ vs ［103.26±17.57］ ng/ml, P<0.05) and inhibin B (［77.43±5.66］ vs ［70.21±5.69］ pg/ml, P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in the length and circumference of the penis and the testis volume in the cryptorchidism side at 6 and 12 months (P>0.05), or in the levels of serum AMH and inhibin B at 6 months (P>0.05).
Unilateral cryptorchidism affects the gonadal function of the patient, and orchiopexy should be timely performed in orde
A 10-year-old Samoyed with unilateral right cryptorchidism was referred to the Clinic for Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty of Ljubljana University, due to a symmetrical, ...noninflammatory, mildly pruritic alopecia of 6-month duration. It had a history of diarrhoea, which responded to cyclosporine treatment. Lymphoma and testicular neoplasia were suspected based on ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration cytology. The dog was castrated and splenic and gastric lymph node biopsies were obtained. Histopathology revealed three different tumours: Sertoli cell tumour and seminoma were present in the right inguinal testicle, and B cell lymphoma was present in the spleen and lymph node. After two months when the peripheral lymph nodes were considerably enlarged and the owners declined chemotherapy, they were advised to start corticosteroid treatment. Three months after the castration, the hair coat looked normal. Four months after the castration, the dog was euthanized at the owner’s request by the referring veterinarian due to a lymphoma related disease.
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