Purpose: Mini-puberty is the hormonal surge of gonadotropins and testosterone which occurs in early infancy. It induces the development and transformation of gonocytes into Ad spermatogonia...

In a paper from Switzerland, the authors describe the relationship between adult dark spermatogonia and the secretory capacity of Leydig cells in cryptorchidism. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether hormonal therapy before orchidopexy affects the histology of the testis and to assess the responsiveness of the Leydig cells, as it has been shown that although basal plasma testosterone levels are within the ‘normal’ range in cryptorchid boys there is an insufficient increase of testosterone after a human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) stimulation in ≈ 30% of cryptorchid boys. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 55 boys (aged 1–7 years) with a unilateral undescended testis were included in the study and divided into two groups. Group I (32 boys) received hormonal therapy before orchidopexy; 17 boys received a long‐acting LHRH analogue (buserelin) administered as a nasal spray in doses of 20 µg/day for 28 days, followed by 1500 IU hCG intramuscularly (i.m.) once a week for 3 weeks, and the remaining 15 received 1500 IU hCG i.m. once a week for 3 weeks. Group II (33 boys) had orchidopexy alone. During orchidopexy biopsies were taken from the undescended and contralateral descended testes of the boys in both groups for histological analyses. Variations in the number of adult dark (Ad) spermatogonia per tubule (Ad/T) were assessed and testosterone levels were measured during the course of the hormonal therapy (before treatment, 14 days after initiation of buserelin administration, 24 h after each hCG injection, and 3 months after cessation of therapy). RESULTS: In group I, 17 boys (53%) had a ‘normal’ Ad/T after hormonal treatment vs only six (18%) in group II after orchidopexy alone ( P = 0.019). In the hormonally treated boys (group I) we compared the testosterone values 24 h after the second injection of hCG (when the response was most pronounced). Those with a normal Ad/T had a mean ( sd ) testosterone level of 199.5 (97.6) ng/dL vs 99.6 (85) ng/dL in those with an inadequate Ad/T response to hormonal therapy ( P < 0.003). CONCLUSION: We have confirmed that there are two subgroups of cryptorchid boys. Patients with a sufficient Leydig cell secretory capacity will have normal testicular histology and Ad spermatogonia count after hormonal treatment. While those with a suboptimal Leydig cell capacity will have a low Ad spermatogonia count and consequently poor prognosis for future fertility, despite successful surgery. As to whether different types and durations of the hormonal therapy in patients with impaired Leydig cell response could lead to improved testicular histology and consequently improved prognosis for future fertility, remains to be answered.

Background: Only a few studies have dealt with quantitative changes of Sertoli cells during human development, and the results of these studies are conflicting. Our hypothesis is that the development of Sertoli cells during mini-puberty follows the same pattern as germ cells. Methods: We examined the biopsies of cryptorchid and normal testes from patients aged 1–12 months. Fifty complete, rounded tubules were examined and the number of Sertoli cells per tubule was determined. We compared the numbers in cryptorchid and normal testes, as well as the average number of Sertoli cells in each age group separately. Results: The number of Sertoli cells per tubule in the cryptorchid testes of patients aged 1–4 months was 22.38 ± 1.01 compared to cryptorchid patients aged 5–12 months (23.20 ± 1.41). This number in patients with spontaneously descended testes aged 1–4 months was 23.53 ± 1.98, while this number in the same group of patients aged 5–12 months was 26.20 ± 1.40. The difference between the two age groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001, two-tailed test). Conclusions: Our results suggest the number of Sertoli cells increases with the hormonal surge. In cryptorchid patients, the number of Sertoli cells is diminished compared to the normal testis.

Introduction: Acute scrotal pain sometimes requires prompt surgical intervention and therefore accurate diagnosis of different etiologies of acute scrotal pain has great therapeutical and prognostic significance. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence, symptomatology and results of treatment of acute scrotal pain in children. Material and Method: The study included patients hospitalized at the Pediatric Surgery Clinic with a diagnosis of acute scrotal pain. We retrospectively analyzed anamnestic data (age of patient and duration of anamnesis prior to admission), clinical parameters obtained during physical examination, mode of treatment (operative or medical), intraoperative findings and (postoperative) treatment. Results: The study included 256 patients with acute scrotal pain, aged from several hours up to 17 years of age (average 9.73 years). The average duration of symptoms prior to admission was 56.74 h. Acute epididymitis was diagnosed in 110 patients (43.0%), torsion of the testicular appendage in 104 patients (40.6%), torsion of the testis in 30 patients (11.7%) and other pathologies in another 12 patients. 166 patients (64.8%) underwent surgery, 42 patients with orchiepididymitis (38.2%), 92 patients with torsion of the testicular appendage (88.5%), and 16.6% of the patients with other pathologies. 22 patients with torsion of the testis underwent surgery (73.3%), while the rest of the 8 patients underwent manual detorquation of the testis. Conclusion: Regardless of the etiology of the acute scrotal pain, it is of great importance that the patient seeks medical assistance promptly. It is therefore important to educate the parents and patients about the problems related to acute scrotal pain.