ESPE Abstracts

Background: The period of transitory postnatal activation of the hypothalamo-pitutary-gonadal axis (mini-puberty) plays an important role in the testicular maturation.

Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the functional condition of the gonads in 1–3 months boys with cryptorchidism.

Method: 40 boys ages 1–3 months with cryptorchidism were examined: group 1–30 boys with unilateral inguinal retention testis and group 2–10 boys with unilateral abdominal testis. Control group consist of 40 healthy boys ages 2–3 month. Methods: orchiometriya and hormonal tests – gonadotropins, testosterone and inhibin B serum levels by immunoenzyme assays.

Results:: In group 1 scrotal testicular 2.3±0.46 cm³ was like as control group (P=0.8). Hormonal tests results showed the increase of the LH serum level in 24% and the increase of FSH in 40%. The testosterone – 4.0 (3.0; 5.4) nmol/l and inhibin B – 380 (344; 422) pg/ml remained normal. In group 2 scrotal testicular volume – 1.6±0.5 cm³ was reduced (P=0,02). Hormonal tests revealed increase the LH level – 7.8 (3.5; 11.1) IU/l (P=0,0007) and decrease testosterone – 3.1 (0.9; 4.5) nmol/l (P=0.023) in 50% boys; high FSH serum level – 11.2 (5.4; 19.7) IU/l (P=0.003) and low inhibin B level – 193 (174; 236) pg/ml (p=0,001) in 80% boys.

Conclusion: subclinical testicular disorders was diagnosed in 40% patients with unilateral inguinal cryptorchidism and the primary gonadal dysfunction – in 80% boys with unilateral abdominal cryptorchidism.