title: Development of the human fetal testis.
abstract: Masculinisation and adult fertility in the male are dependent on appropriate fetal endocrine programming. There is also now increasing evidence to indicate that the same mechanisms which regulate masculinisation also affect the general wellbeing of males throughout their life and, particularly, during ageing. Testosterone, secreted by the fetal testes, is the main factor regulating these processes and an understanding of fetal testis development in the human male is essential if we are to prevent adult reproductive disorders. This review focuses on what is known about human testis development and describes the effects of maternal smoking, a surrogate of possible xenotoxicant exposure on fetal testis and fetal liver function.
authors.affiliation: College of medical, veterinary and life sciences, institute of biodiversity, animal health and comparative medicine, university of Glasgow, Bearsden road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: peter.oshaughnessy@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: O'Shaughnessy
authors.affiliation: Division of applied medicine, institute of medical sciences, university of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fowler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013045:Species Specificity; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Fetal; Foie; Fœtus; Homme; Human; Liver; Maternal smoking; Steroidogenesis; Stéroïdogenèse; Tabagisme maternel; Testis