title: Early signs of Sertoli and Leydig cell dysfunction in the abdominal testes of immature unilaterally cryptorchid rats.
abstract: Testicular descent was prevented unilaterally by cutting the gubernaculum testis of newborn rats. When 20 days old unilaterally cryptorchid rats were injected intraperitoneally with 2 micrograms bFSH per gram body weight and killed 6 h later when testicular testosterone (T) and oestradiol (E2) concentrations were determined. The increase in E2 was subnormal in abdominal testes. In 18-day-old unilaterally cryptorchid rats the efferent ducts were ligated bilaterally, and the rats were killed 48 h later. The weight increase, due to accumulation of seminiferous tubule fluid, was significantly greater in the abdominal testes. In contrast, the ABP content of the abdominal epididymis was subnormal in 20-day-old unilaterally cryptorchid rats. Unilateral orchidectomy was performed in 16-day-old unilaterally cryptorchid rats and at 20 days of age intratesticular T and E2, and plasma FSH and LH concentrations were determined and compared to that in 20-day-old control unilaterally cryptorchid rats. Removal of an abdominal testis resulted in increased plasma FSH and intratesticular E2, whereas plasma levels of LH and intratesticular levels of T were unaffected. Removal of a scrotal testis resulted in increased plasma FSH and LH coupled with increased intratesticular T and E2. Rats with a single abdominal testis had higher plasma FSH and LH and intratesticular T, but similar intratesticular E2, than rats with a single scrotal testis. It is concluded that Sertoli and Leydig cell function are influenced by cryptorchidism at a stage when the temperature difference, and the morphological differences between the testes are very discrete.
mesh_terms: D000727:Androgen-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D002369:Castration; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000727:Androgen-Binding Protein; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone