Prenatal measurement of testicular diameter by ultrasonography: development of fetal male gender and evaluation of testicular descent

Rotondi, Mario; Valenzano, Francesca; Bilancioni, E.; Span�, Gaetano; Giorlandino, Claudio

doi:10.1002/1097-0223(200102)21:2<112::aid-pd2>3.0.co;2-1

Cited by 27 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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Section: Physiological Roles Of Insl3mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The subsequent transinguinal and inguinoscrotal phases (traditionally regarded as a single, inguinoscrotal phase) ensure the passage of the testes through the inguinal canal and further down to the bottom of the scrotum. These processes can be completed anywhere between gw 25 and 35 (Rotondi et al, 2001). The transinguinal passage requires a prior dilation of the inguinal canal, development of the processus vaginalis and intraabdominal pressure (Hutson et al, 1997).…”

Section: Physiological Roles Of Insl3mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Human testicular insulin-like factor 3: in relation to development, reproductive hormones and andrological disorders

Bay

Andersson

2010

International Journal of Andrology

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Knockout of the gene encoding insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) results in cryptorchidism in mice due to disruption of the transabdominal phase of testicular descent. This finding was essential for understanding the complete course of testis descensus, and wound up years of speculations regarding the endocrine regulation of this process. INSL3 is, along with testosterone, a major secretory product of testicular Leydig cells. In addition to its crucial function in testicular descent, INSL3 is suggested to play a paracrine role in germ cell survival and an endocrine role in bone metabolism. INSL3 is produced in human prenatal and neonatal, and in adult Leydig cells to various extents, and is in a developmental context regulated like testosterone, with production during second trimester, an early postnatal peak and increasing secretion during puberty, resulting in high adult serum levels. INSL3 production is entirely dependent on the state of Leydig cell differentiation, and is stimulated by the long-term trophic effects mediated by luteinizing hormone (LH). Once differentiated, Leydig cells apparently express INSL3 in a constitutive manner, and the hormone is thereby insensitive to the acute, steroidogenic effects of LH, which for example is an important factor in the regulation of testosterone. Clinically, serum INSL3 levels can turn out to be a usable tool to monitor basal Leydig cell function in patients with various disorders affecting Leydig cell function. According to animal studies, foetal INSL3 production is, directly or indirectly, sensitive to oestrogenic or anti-androgenic compounds. This provides important insight into the mechanism by which maternal exposure to endocrine disrupters can result in cryptorchidism in the next generation. Conclusively, INSL3 is an interesting testicular hormone with potential clinical value as a marker for Leydig cell function. It should be considered on a par with testosterone in the evaluation of testicular function and the consequences of Leydig cell dysfunction.

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Section: Physiological Roles Of Insl3mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Physiological Roles Of Insl3mentioning

confidence: 99%

Human testicular insulin-like factor 3: in relation to development, reproductive hormones and andrological disorders

Bay

Andersson

2010

International Journal of Andrology

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“…The visualization of the fetal testis is feasible by intrauterine ultrasound during gestation, also making possible the measurement of testicular diameters and their position in the abdomen, pelvis or scrotum (19)(20)(21).…”

Section: Commentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The position of the testis during the fetal period: an additional parameter to estimate fetal weight

2010

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Purpose: To establish a correlation between testicular position and fetal weight, in order to provide an additional prenatal parameter for fetal weight estimation. Materials and Methods:We studied 288 testes from 144 human fetuses. The fetuses were assessed as regards weight, total length, crown-rump length and foot length. Fetal age was calculated according to the foot length criteria. The position of the testis was classified as abdominal, inguinal or scrotal. Results: One hundred and ninety seven testes (68.4%) were abdominal, 43 (14.9%) were inguinal and 48 (16.6%) were scrotal. In the fetuses weighing up to 500 grams, 147 testes (93.5%) were abdominal and 5 testes (6.5%) were inguinal. In fetuses weighing between 501 and 1000 grams, 54 testes (68.6%) were abdominal, 28 testes (32.5%) were inguinal and 4 testes (4.6%) were scrotal. In fetuses weighing between 1001 and 1500 grams, 4 testes (13.3%) were abdominal, 3 (10%) were inguinal and 23 (76.6%) were scrotal. All fetuses weighing more than 1500 grams presented the testes with a migration to the scrotum (10 fetuses -20 testes). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study correlating the testicular position to the fetal weight during testicular migration in human fetuses. Identification of the testes during the prenatal period could be a useful alternative parameter for estimating fetal weight.

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“…Because the erect length of the penis is virtually impossible to obtain in infants, the stretched length is used as the reference value (Schonfeld, 1943;Wessells et al, 1996). In most studies, in utero sonographic determination of male external genitalia is based on measurement of penile length, determination of scrotal size and/or the descent and diameter of the testes (Achiron et al, 1998;Johnson and Maxwell, 2000;Rotondi et al, 2001;Zalel et al, 2001). There are few literature data concerning fetal corpus spongiosum growth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sonographic measurement of corpus spongiosum in male fetuses

et al. 2011

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Prenatal measurement of testicular diameter by ultrasonography: development of fetal male gender and evaluation of testicular descent

Cited by 27 publications

References 20 publications

Human testicular insulin-like factor 3: in relation to development, reproductive hormones and andrological disorders

Human testicular insulin-like factor 3: in relation to development, reproductive hormones and andrological disorders

The position of the testis during the fetal period: an additional parameter to estimate fetal weight

Sonographic measurement of corpus spongiosum in male fetuses

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