title: Advances in molecular genetics of cryptorchidism.
abstract: Cryptorchidism is the most common congenital disorder in boys; one major complication of this disorder is male infertility. Androgens are key hormones to complete testicular descent; therefore, impaired fetal androgen action can result in this anomaly; its molecular etiology, however, remains unknown. Recent molecular approaches might provide an opportunity to identify not only candidate genes but also several predictive markers of future fertility. The purpose of this review is to summarize the recent insight into the genetic pathway of testicular descent and the molecular etiology of isolated cryptorchidism, and discuss the prospects of treatment to achieve future fertility in such patients.
authors: Department of Nephro-urology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Japan.
authors: Yoshiyuki
authors: Y
authors: Kojima
authors: Kentaro
authors: K
authors: Mizuno
authors: Kenjiro
authors: K
authors: Kohri
authors: Yutaro
authors: Y
authors: Hayashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008967:Molecular Biology