Melatonin Ameliorates Developmental Landmarks Induced by Gestational and Lactational Coexposure to Chlorpyriphos and Cypermethrin in F1 Male Rats

The ameliorative potentials of melatonin (ML) on developmental changes evoked by gestational and lactational co-exposure to chlorpyriphos (CP) and cypermethrin (CY) was investigated in male Wistar rats. Pregnant dams were divided at random into 6 groups of 10 animals each and treated orally by gavage from gestation day 1 to postnatal day 21 with the following regimens: The DW, SO and ML groups were administered distilled water (2 ml/kg), soya oil (2 ml/kg) and melatonin (0.5 mg/kg), respectively; CC group was co-administered CP (1.9 mg/kg) and CY (7.5 mg/kg); MC group was pretreated with ML (0.5 mg/kg) and followed by co-administration of CP and CY while the CM group was administered CP and CY and then treated with ML. We evaluated the developmental parameters on the F1 generation male rats at different postnatal intervals following parturition. Alterations in litter size and weight, number of live/dead pups, anogenital distance, crown-rump length, time of eye and ear openings, and testicular descent induced by gestational and lactational exposure to CP and CY in F1 male rats were mitigated by pre- and post-administration of ML. These curative and prophylactic potentials of ML may be partly attributed to its widely known antioxidant property.

Right Transverse Testicular Ectopia: A Nonclassified Variant Confirmed on Laparoscopy

Transverse testicular ectopia is a rare anomaly characterized by testicular descent into the scrotum through the same inguinal canal. Here, we report the case of a 15-year-old boy diagnosed with transverse testicular ectopia wherein both testes descended through separate inguinal canals. He underwent a diagnostic laparoscopy which helped to identify both spermatic cords entering both inguinal canals separately. During scrotal exploration, both testes were found in the same side. Transseptal orchidopexy was performed. The short-term follow-up is uneventful.

Association of antimullerian hormone with the size of the appendix testis, the androgen and estrogen receptors and their expression in the appendix testis, in congenital cryptorchidism

Objectives Antimullerian hormone (AMH) causes regression of the mullerian ducts in the male fetus. The appendix testis (AT) is a vestigial remnant of mullerian duct origin, containing both androgen (AR) and estrogen (ER) receptors. The role of both AMH and AT in testicular descent is yet to be studied. We investigated the possible association of AMH with AT size, the AR and ER, and their expression in the AT, in congenital cryptorchidism. Methods A total of 26 patients with congenital unilateral cryptorchidism and 26 controls with orthotopic testes were investigated, and 21 ATs were identified in each group. AMH and insulin-like three hormone (INSL3) concentrations were measured with spectrophotometry. AR and ER receptor expression was assessed with immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies R441 for AR and MAB463 for ER. For the estimation of receptor expression, the Allred Score method was used. Results AMH concentrations did not present significant differences between patients with congenital cryptorchidism and the controls. Also, no correlation was found between AMH, INSL3, and AT length. Allred scores did not present significant differences. However, expression percentiles and intensity for both receptors presented significant differences. Three children with cryptorchidism and the highest AMH levels also had the highest estrogen receptor scores in the AT. Conclusions No association was found between AMH and the studied major parameters. However, higher AMH concentrations, in combination with higher estrogen receptor scores in the AT, may play a role in cryptorchidism in some children. Larger population samples are needed to verify this observation.

Anatomical location of undescended testes and comparison between their size at different anatomical locations: A cross sectional study

Introduction: Undescended testis (UDT) or cryptorchidism is a common childhood condition in which a boy is born without having one or both testes in their scrotum. It is a very frequent clinical finding in boys, with a prevalence of about 2-4%. The inguinoscrotal phase of testicular descent normally takes place in the last trimester of pregnancy. The regulation of prenatal testicular descent in humans is not fully understood, but numerous genetic and endocrinal factors are thought to have been involved. Preterm boys have been described to have a higher rate of UDT. The classification of UDT is performed according to palpable or nonpalpable testis. If the testis is located inside the normal path of descent, the testis is called ’intra-abdominal’, for those located in the abdomen is called ’intracanalicular’, for those located between the internal and external rings or ’suprascrotal’, for those located between the entrance of the scrotum and the external ring. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of anatomical location of undescended testis in pediatric patients undergoing orchidopexy as well as to compare the mean size of undescended testis at different anatomical location in pediatric patients undergoing orchidopexy as a secondary objective. Methods: It’s a cross sectional study of 94 patients with total 110 testes as per inclusion criteria. Study was performed at pediatric surgery department of Liaquat National university hospital Karachi, Pakistan for a duration of eight months. Orchidopexy was performed under general anesthesia as a surgical day care procedure. At orchiopexy, the outcome variables i.e. location and size of the testis was noted. The size of the testis was measured in anteroposterior and mediolateral dimensions vernier caliper, graduated in mm. The size of testis was calculated by modified Lambert’s formula (0.71xlengthxwidth2). All the collected data were entered into the proforma attached at the end. Results: Mean±SD of age was 4.29±2.19 with C.I (3.38…….4.74) years. Mean±SD of size of testis was 425.68±244.43 with C.I. (375.89……..475.47) mm. In location of testis 4 (4.2%) was located at intra-abdominal, 15 (16%) at intracanalicular and 75 (79.8%) was located at distal to superficial ring. Mean size of testis in intra-abdominal location was 276.29±145.47, intra-canalicular 367.89±196.15, distal to superficial ring was 442.27±54.08 and non-significant P-value was found i.e. (p=0.264). Conclusion: No significant difference was found between mean size of testis and location of undescended testis. The most common location was distal to superficial ring. Keyword: Testes; Undescended; Anatomical Location; Orchidopexy; Anatomical Location

Gonadotropins for testicular descent in cryptorchid congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism males beyond infancy

Objectives To study the effect of combined gonadotropin therapy (CGT) on testicular descent ± spermatogenesis in congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) patients with cryptorchidism beyond infancy. Methods This retrospective cohort study included CHH patients with cryptorchidism [bilateral (n=5) or unilateral (n=1)] treated with CGT for testicular descent ± pubertal induction. All participants were treated with CGT [human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)] with hMG pretreatment in three and monitored for changes in testicular volume (TV), serum total testosterone (T), serum inhibin-B, and sperm concentration. Results Complete testicular descent to the scrotal position was achieved in 5/6 patients (10/11 testes) after 4.7 ± 1.6 months of treatment. There was 44 ± 18%, 97.5% (IQR: 44–195), 10-fold (IQR: 3–19.6), and two-fold (IQR: 1.7–9.3) increase in stretched penile length, ultrasound measured TV, T level, and serum inhibin-B from baseline, respectively. In two pediatric cases, testicular descent occurred with isolated hMG therapy. At the last follow up (median: 23.5, IQR: 10.5–38.7 months), all the descended testes remained in scrotal position. In four pubertal/postpubertal age patients, continuous CGT (18–60 months) yielded T and inhibin-B levels of 16.64 ± 1.46 nmol/l and 106 ± 32.6 pg/mL, respectively. All the three patients with available semen analysis had sperm concentration of ≥5 million/mL and one of them achieved paternity. Conclusions A trial of CGT before orchiopexy may be considered in CHH males with cryptorchidism even beyond the narrow age-window of infancy. CGT may also have beneficial effects on future spermatogenesis and fertility outcomes in these patients.

Association between Testicular Appendix and Undescended Testicle in children: A comparative study

The appendix testis may be involved in the normal testicular descent and there are reports of decreased incidence of appendix testis in children with undescended testis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of appendix testis in children with undescended testis in comparison to the incidence in children with normally descended testis.

A Comprehensive Review: Molecular and Genetic Background of Indirect Inguinal Hernias

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The occurrence of indirect inguinal hernias (IIH) is 5 times more prevalent than that of direct inguinal hernias (IH) and it is 7 times more common in males, owing to the attendance of the processus vaginalis (PV) throughout testicular descent. <b><i>Summary:</i></b> In children, the immense mainstream of IH is indirect. The progress of IIH development in children is instigated with a patent PV, which is mostly treated by simple herniorrhaphy. Syndromes of the collagen, microfibril, elastin, and glycosaminoglycan constituents of the extracellular matrix may attend to the development of IH. Our recent research showed that the lack of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in children contributes to the development of IIH, while the scenario is defined as the opposite in adults. However, there is still a lack of knowledge on all of the genetic and molecular causes of the disease. <b><i>Key Messages:</i></b> Here we aimed to review the published genetic background of IH, the deficiencies of connective tissue causing the disease, recently defined molecular pathways involved including EMT, and possible recurrence reasons. This comprehensive study can deliver an analytic outline aiding to define patients with IH combined with fundamental genetic diseases.

Analysis of the CAG tract length in the Androgen Receptor gene in Mexican patients with nonsyndromic cryptorchidism

Objectives Cryptorchidism is the most common genitourinary birth defect in live newborn males and is considered as an important risk factor for testicular germ cell tumors and infertility. The Androgen Receptor gene is important in this pathology due to its participation, mainly, in the inguinoscrotal phase of testicular descent. We determine the length of the CAG tract in the Androgen Receptor (AR) gene in Mexican patients with nonsyndromic cryptorchidism. Methods One hundred and 15 males were included; of these, 62 had nonsyndromic cryptorchidism and 53 were healthy volunteers. DNA was extracted from a peripheral blood samples, subsequently, the CAG tract in exon 1 of AR gene was amplified by PCR and sequenced. Results Mexican patients with nonsyndromic cryptorchidism presented 25.03 ± 2.58 repeats of CAG tract in the AR gene compared to 22.72 ± 3.17 repeats of CAG tract in Mexican healthy individuals (p≤0.0001; t value of 4.3). Furthermore, the deletion of codon 57 that corresponds to the deletion of a leucine residue at position 57 (Del L57) in the AR gene was found for the first time in a nonsyndromic cryptorchidism patient. This molecular alteration has been related previously to testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT). Conclusions The CAG tract in the AR gene is longer in patients with nonsyndromic cryptorchidism than in healthy individuals, supporting the association between this polymorphism of the AR gene and nonsyndromic cryptorchidism in the Mexican population.