Postnatal germ cell development during first 18\u202fmonths of life in testes from boys with non-syndromic cryptorchidism and complete or partial androgen insensitivity syndrome.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION\nNeonatal testicular germ cells/gonocytes, transform into stem cells for spermatogenesis during minipuberty , driving change in timing of surgery. This study examined gonocyte transformation in cryptorchid testes in children ≤18\u202fmonths of age with unilateral, bilateral undescended testes (UDT), complete or partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS, PAIS) [3,4].\n\n\nMATERIAL AND METHODS\nTesticular biopsies were taken from patients with unilateral or bilateral UDT, PAIS or CAIS, aged 10\u202fdays-18\u202fmonths. These testicular sections underwent immunohistochemistry with antibodies (Oct4, Ki67, C-Kit, Sox9) followed by confocal imaging, cell counting and statistical analysis.\n\n\nRESULTS\nBoth Sertoli cells/tubule and germ cells (GC)/tubule decreased with age, and % empty tubules (no GC) increased with age but with no significant differences between patient groups. Oct4+ germ cells/tubule decreased with age. There are some GCs and Sertoli cells proliferating during the first year and most proliferating Oct4+ germ cells (Oct4+/Ki67+) were located off tubular basement membrane.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nOur study showed that Oct4 expression gradually decreased after minipuberty and transformation into spermatogonia. Germ cells and Sertoli cells undergo mitosis during the first 12\u202fmonths although not abundantly. We propose that Oct4+ gonocyte transformation into spermatogonia via proliferation and migration to the basement membrane may be delayed in UDT.