Effects of Orchiopexy on Congenitally Cryptorchid Insulin-3 Knockout Mice

No AccessJournal of UrologyBasic Science1 Oct 2002Effects of Orchiopexy on Congenitally Cryptorchid Insulin-3 Knockout Mice Michael T. Nguyen, Patrick R. Showalter, Charles F. Timmons, Serge Nef, Luis F. Parada, and Linda A. Baker Michael T. NguyenMichael T. Nguyen , Patrick R. ShowalterPatrick R. Showalter , Charles F. TimmonsCharles F. Timmons , Serge NefSerge Nef , Luis F. ParadaLuis F. Parada , and Linda A. BakerLinda A. Baker View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-5347(05)64412-6AboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract Purpose: Insulin-3 (Insl3) knockout mice exhibit isolated, bilateral, high intra-abdominal cryptorchidism. If left in this position until adulthood, these testes will deteriorate to the Sertoli-cell-only state, leading to infertility in 100%. We examined the effect of orchiopexy in this genetically engineered animal model. Materials and Methods: A total of 160 testes from 80 male offspring of Insl3 F1 crosses underwent either no orchiopexy (29 testes), sham surgery (25 testes), 1-stage Fowler-Stephens scrotal orchiopexy (57 testes) or primary orchiopexy into a low abdominal, subcutaneous pouch (49 testes). A group of postoperative mice underwent fertility testing 3 months postoperatively. At 6 to 9 months postoperatively the testes were harvested and histologically analyzed. Results: Testes were atrophic in 100% (25 of 25) of the sham group, 91% (52 of 57) of the Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy group and 33% (16 of 49) of the subcutaneous pouch group (testis weight less than 50 mg.). Fertility testing was done in 30 mice (sham 5, Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy 17 and subcutaneous pouch 8). Infertility was secondary to bilateral testicular atrophy (sham 5 of 5, Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy 13 of 17), spermatogenic maturation arrest (subcutaneous pouch 8 of 8) and ductal obstruction [normal spermatogenesis with epididymis devoid of sperm] (Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy 2 of 17). Fertility with normal spermatogenesis was observed in 2 of 17 Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy mice, both of which were Insl3 knockout mice. Conclusions: Intrascrotal orchiopexy can rescue these congenitally cryptorchid Insl3 knockout testes from their intra-abdominal fate of Sertoli-cell-only and lead to fertility. The results suggest that orchiopexy has a crucial and central role in preservation of spermatogenesis. References 1 : Hormonal control of testicular descent and the cause of cryptorchidism. Reprod Fertil Dev1994; 6: 151. Google Scholar 2 : From malformations to molecular mechanisms in the male: three decades of research on endocrine disrupters. APMIS2001; 109: 263. 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Google Scholar From the Department of Urology, the Center for Developmental Biology and the Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas© 2002 by American Urological Association, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited byMizuno K, Hayashi Y, Kojima Y, Kurokawa S, Sasaki S and Kohri K (2018) Early Orchiopexy Improves Subsequent Testicular Development and Spermatogenesis in the Experimental Cryptorchid Rat ModelJournal of Urology, VOL. 179, NO. 3, (1195-1199), Online publication date: 1-Mar-2008. Volume 168Issue 4 Part 2October 2002Page: 1779-1783 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2002 by American Urological Association, Inc.Keywordscryptorchidismfertility, testismodels, animalMetrics Author Information Michael T. Nguyen More articles by this author Patrick R. Showalter More articles by this author Charles F. Timmons More articles by this author Serge Nef More articles by this author Luis F. Parada More articles by this author Linda A. 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