Androgenic Sensitivity of the Gubernaculum Testis: Evidence for Hormonal/Mechanical Interactions in Testicular Descent

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Abstract
In an effort to determine whether the gubernaculum is the androgen responsive target tissue that facilitates testicular descent, the rabbit gubernaculum was studied. During descent of the testis the gubernaculum undergoes important morphologic alterations. These include an increase in size secondary to true growth, as measured by total DNA and RNA, and invagination resulting in testicular descent. These changes appear to be androgen sensitive because the changes are prevented by castration and are inducible by the administration of dihydrotestosterone. The presence of 5.alpha.-reductase activity in the gubernaculum at this critical stage supports the role of androgen dependence in testicular descent. Intraabdominal pressure plays an important role in testicular descent. Apparently, the gubernaculum may be the major target organ for androgen action, providing insight into the mechanism by which hormonal factors interact with physical forces to effect descent of the testes.