title: Impaired testosterone biosynthesis in cryptorchidism.
abstract: In an attempt to determine whether the production and synthesis of testosterone (T) by the testis is impaired by the cryptorchid state, the ability of the cryptorchid rat testis to form T was assessed at various time periods into adulthood after the surgical induction of cryptorchidism in the newborn period. The intratesticular T content of the descended testis rose from 0.3 ng/testis at 14 days of age to 71.2 ng/testis at adulthood (day 56); whereas in the cryptorchid testis, the values were 0.4 ng/testis and 2.0 ng/testis, respectively, at the same ages (P less than 0.001). For determination of the site of inhibition of T biosynthesis in the cryptorchid testis, the enzymatic activities (17 alpha-hydroxylase, 17,20-desmolase, and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) in the delta 4T biosynthetic pathway were measured. All these enzyme activities in the cryptorchid testis were inhibited at 56 days of age by about 80% when compared with the descended testis (P less than 0.01). These data suggest that cryptorchidism exerts a deleterious effect on the ability of the Leydig cells to synthesize T and may in part explain the abnormal morphology and resultant infertility seen in patients with cryptorchidism.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Farrer
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sikka
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Constantinide
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rajfer
mesh_terms: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000446:Aldehyde-Lyases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; C032690:3-alpha-(17-beta)-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (NAD(+)); D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; C029009:steroid hormone 7-alpha-hydroxylase; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; D000446:Aldehyde-Lyases