title: Testicular growth and tubular function in prepubertal boys conceived by intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about the gonadal function of boys conceived by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) from fathers with compromised spermatogenesis. To evaluate the potential risk of tubular dysfunction in these boys, we assessed morphological and functional gonadal parameters and their correlation with paternal sperm characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a group of 88 eight-year-old ICSI boys, we measured testicular and penile size. Serum concentrations of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B were analyzed in 59 of them.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Except for two boys with micropenis, penis length and mean testicular length were normal in all boys. In 7 boys inhibin B concentrations were below the lower limit for age, while all AMH results were within normal limits. Serum Sertoli cell markers correlated significantly with each other (p < 0.005), but were independent of paternal sperm parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that penile and testicular growth as well as Sertoli cell function are normal in the majority of prepubertal ICSI boys. Serum AMH and inhibin B levels were found to be independent of sperm quality of the father. Further follow-up of these prepubertal children is needed to examine whether normal Sertoli cell markers will be followed by a normal spermatogenesis in puberty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Universitair Ziekenhuis, Brussel, Belgium. jean.deschepper@uzbrussels.be
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Schepper
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Belva
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schiettecatte
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anckaert
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tournaye
authors.forename: Maryse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonduelle
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000254:growth & development; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism