title: Testicular descent and cryptorchidism: the state of the art in 2004.
abstract: The understanding of testicular descent has changed much in the 20 years since the authors' laboratory began studying the mechanism. The process is now known to occur in 2 steps with different anatomy and hormonal regulation but with many still unresolved controversies. Recent advances include the recognition of acquired cryptorchidism of critical early postnatal germ cell development and the recommendation for surgery at 6 months of age. The authors still await long-term outcome studies.
authors.affiliation: F Douglas Stephens Surgical Research Laboratory, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. john.hutson@rch.org.au
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hutson
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hasthorpe
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000502:physiology; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D047109:Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000254:growth & development; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide