Altered Integrins Expression of Patients Affected by Cryptorchidism

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the expression of the integrin isoforms α7A and β1A, expressed by myogenic precursor cells, and α7B and β1D, expressed by mature muscle cells in the cremaster of patients affected by an undescended testis. Methods: Fifteen samples of cremaster were obtained from patients undergoing surgery for an undescended testis. Thirty control specimens of cremaster were harvested from patients with congenital hydrocele or inguinal hernia. Immunofluorescent analysis was carried out using anti-α7A, β1A, α7B, and β1D integrin antibodies. Sections were observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Results: As compared with controls, a significant loss of a α7B (p = 0.0355) and β1D (p = 0.0069) integrins and a higher expression of α7A (p = 0.0003) and β1A (p = 0.0150) was detected in the cremaster of patients affected by an undescended testis. Conclusions: Our data document a critical alteration of the cytoskeleton of cremasteric smooth muscle cells in patients with an undescended testis. This might explain the altered function in smooth muscle cells in cremaster implied during testicular descent. We therefore speculate that the postnatal splicing of α7A to α7B and of β1A to β1D integrins is delayed. This could account for the common clinical scenario of spontaneous descent of the testes in the first months of life.

Clinically Differentiated Abnormalities of the Architecture and Expression of Myosin Isoforms of the Human Cremaster Muscle in Cryptorchidism and Retractile Testis

“…RT has long been considered as a variant of the normal testis, but recent studies demonstrated [11] a significant risk of RT evolution into ascending or acquired UDT, with a higher occurrence in boys younger than 7 years old [12]. Arena et al [13] described an alteration of the cytoskeleton of cremasteric smooth muscle cells in patients with an undescended testis. This might explain the altered function in smooth muscle cells in cremaster implied during testicular descent [13].…”

“…Arena et al [13] described an alteration of the cytoskeleton of cremasteric smooth muscle cells in patients with an undescended testis. This might explain the altered function in smooth muscle cells in cremaster implied during testicular descent [13].…”

The Cremaster in Undescended Testis

“…Molinaro et al’s [1] study elegantly confirms the hypothesis of an impaired innervation of cremaster as a causative role in the pathogenesis of undescended testis. We believe it is worth better defining whether the altered innervation in cremaster of undescended affected patients is at corticospinal or at nucleus level of the genitofemoral nerve and, then, the role of innervation on the abnormal arrangement of the cytoskeleton of CM cells in these patients [4]. Finally, we would like to congratulate Molinaro et al [1] for their remarkable article, highlighting the obscure pathogenesis of undescended testis.…”