Sergey Sadov1, Jaakko J Koskenniemi1, Helena E Virtanen1, Antti Perheentupa1, Jørgen H Petersen1, Niels E Skakkebaek1, Katharina M Main1, Jorma Toppari1. 1. Departments of Physiology and Pediatrics (S.S., J.J.K., H.E.V., A.P., J.T.) and Obstetrics and Gynaecology (A.P.), University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, FI-20520 Turku, Finland; and Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC) (J.J.K., J.H.P., N.E.S., K.M.M.), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract
CONTEXT: The pattern of testicular growth during puberty may provide important information about early testicular damage and reproductive potential in adulthood. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pubertal testicular growth in boys with congenital cryptorchidism and controls. DESIGN: Longitudinal case-control study. SETTING: Andrological Research Center, University of Turku. PARTICIPANTS: Altogether, 119 boys participated: 51 cases with a history of congenital cryptorchidism and 65 controls fulfilled the inclusion criteria. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Testicular volume by an orchidometer (mL) and ultrasound (mL), testicular length by a ruler (mm), and onset of pubertal testicular growth (y). Longitudinal testicular growth was analyzed with a nonlinear mixed-effect model. RESULTS: The mean age of the onset of pubertal testicular growth (age at the attainment of >3 mL by orchidometer) was 11.7 and 11.8 years in cryptorchid cases and controls, respectively. The difference between cases and controls was not significant. Modeled postpubertal testicular size was smaller among bilaterally and unilaterally undescended testis than in controls. There was a high level of agreement between testicular sizes of 3 mL by orchidometer and 25 mm by ruler as cut-offs in definition of the onset of puberty. An orchidometer size of 3 mL and ruler length of 25 mm corresponded to 1.6 and 1.7 mL by ultrasound (with Lambert's formula), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Testicular growth in puberty was impaired in congenitally cryptorchid boys. This suggests a poor perinatal development of the cryptorchid testis. The timing of the onset of pubertal testicular growth, however, did not differ which suggests an intact hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
CONTEXT: The pattern of testicular growth during puberty may provide important information about early testicular damage and reproductive potential in adulthood. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pubertal testicular growth in boys with congenital cryptorchidism and controls. DESIGN: Longitudinal case-control study. SETTING: Andrological Research Center, University of Turku. PARTICIPANTS: Altogether, 119 boys participated: 51 cases with a history of congenital cryptorchidism and 65 controls fulfilled the inclusion criteria. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Testicular volume by an orchidometer (mL) and ultrasound (mL), testicular length by a ruler (mm), and onset of pubertal testicular growth (y). Longitudinal testicular growth was analyzed with a nonlinear mixed-effect model. RESULTS: The mean age of the onset of pubertal testicular growth (age at the attainment of >3 mL by orchidometer) was 11.7 and 11.8 years in cryptorchid cases and controls, respectively. The difference between cases and controls was not significant. Modeled postpubertal testicular size was smaller among bilaterally and unilaterally undescended testis than in controls. There was a high level of agreement between testicular sizes of 3 mL by orchidometer and 25 mm by ruler as cut-offs in definition of the onset of puberty. An orchidometer size of 3 mL and ruler length of 25 mm corresponded to 1.6 and 1.7 mL by ultrasound (with Lambert's formula), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Testicular growth in puberty was impaired in congenitally cryptorchid boys. This suggests a poor perinatal development of the cryptorchid testis. The timing of the onset of pubertal testicular growth, however, did not differ which suggests an intact hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
Authors: Fevzi Bedir; Ercüment Keskin; Mehmet Karabakan; İbrahim Karabulut; Fatih Kürşat Yılmazel; Ertuğrul Gazi Özbey; Yılmaz Aksoy; İsa Özbey Journal: Turk J Urol Date: 2017-05-03
Authors: Sasha R Howard; Leonardo Guasti; Ariel Poliandri; Alessia David; Claudia P Cabrera; Michael R Barnes; Karoliina Wehkalampi; Stephen O'Rahilly; Catherine E Aiken; Anthony P Coll; Marcella Ma; Debra Rimmington; Giles S H Yeo; Leo Dunkel Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2018-02-01 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Wiwat Rodprasert; Helena E Virtanen; Juho-Antti Mäkelä; Jorma Toppari Journal: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) Date: 2020-01-15 Impact factor: 5.555