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

TY - JOUR

T1 - Postnatal germ cell development during first 18 months of life in testes from boys with non-syndromic cryptorchidism and complete or partial androgen insensitivity syndrome

AU - Li, Ruili

AU - Azzollini, Damian

AU - Shen, Ruidong

AU - Thorup, Jorgen

AU - Clasen-Linde, Erick

AU - Cortes, Dina

AU - Hutson, John M

N1 - Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PY - 2019/8

Y1 - 2019/8

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Neonatal 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 months of age with unilateral, bilateral undescended testes (UDT), complete or partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS, PAIS) [3,4].MATERIAL AND METHODS: Testicular biopsies were taken from patients with unilateral or bilateral UDT, PAIS or CAIS, aged 10 days-18 months. These testicular sections underwent immunohistochemistry with antibodies (Oct4, Ki67, C-Kit, Sox9) followed by confocal imaging, cell counting and statistical analysis.RESULTS: Both 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.CONCLUSION: Our study showed that Oct4 expression gradually decreased after minipuberty and transformation into spermatogonia. Germ cells and Sertoli cells undergo mitosis during the first 12 months although not abundantly. We propose that Oct4+ gonocyte transformation into spermatogonia via proliferation and migration to the basement membrane may be delayed in UDT.

AB - INTRODUCTION: Neonatal 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 months of age with unilateral, bilateral undescended testes (UDT), complete or partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS, PAIS) [3,4].MATERIAL AND METHODS: Testicular biopsies were taken from patients with unilateral or bilateral UDT, PAIS or CAIS, aged 10 days-18 months. These testicular sections underwent immunohistochemistry with antibodies (Oct4, Ki67, C-Kit, Sox9) followed by confocal imaging, cell counting and statistical analysis.RESULTS: Both 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.CONCLUSION: Our study showed that Oct4 expression gradually decreased after minipuberty and transformation into spermatogonia. Germ cells and Sertoli cells undergo mitosis during the first 12 months although not abundantly. We propose that Oct4+ gonocyte transformation into spermatogonia via proliferation and migration to the basement membrane may be delayed in UDT.

U2 - 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2018.12.011

DO - 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2018.12.011

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30739749

SN - 0022-3468

JO - Journal of Pediatric Surgery

JF - Journal of Pediatric Surgery

ER -