Hormonal Regulation of Testicular Descent: Experimental and Clinical Observations

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Abstract
Hormonal regulation of testicular descent was investigated. Based on experimental studies using the rat [given luteinizing hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone or 17.beta.-estradiol] and on a review of clinical material it was determined that testicular descent is an androgen-mediated event directly under the regulation of pituitary gonadotropin. The active androgenic metabolite involved in this process appears to be dihydrotestosterone, which is synthesized by the testis and must be present in high local concentrations to be effective. In addition to these hormonal requirements the anatomy of the inguinal canal must provide unimpeded migration of the testis into the scrotum. Any imbalance or anomaly of these prerequisites may lead to cryptorchidism.