FSH: III. Evidence for a Possible Prepubertal Regulation of its Secretion by the Seminiferous Tubules in Cryptorchid Boys *

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Abstract
Two groups of prepubertal unilateral cryptorchid boys, 42▵12 to 12 years of age, underwent stimulation tests with 1 μg (n = 10) or 25 μg (n = = 8) of LHRH. Two groups of prepubertal bilateral cryptorchid boys, 52▵12 to H9▵12 years of age, were similarly studied (1 μg, n = 6; 25 μg, n = 8). For comparison, control groups of both prepubertal boys, 66▵12 to 119▵12 Via years of age (1 μg, n = 9; 25 μg, n = 11), and pubertal boys, 12 5/12 to 14 years of age (1 μg, n = 11), were also tested for response to LHRH. All patients had surgical descents of the cryptorchid testes with bilateral biopsy of the testes at that time. The number of spermatogonia per 50 transverse tubular sections was determined. Unilateral cryptorchid groups exhibited FSH responses to 1 and 25 μg of LHRH similar to those of the prepubertal control groups. The numbers of spermatogonia were low (means ± SE of 12 ± 6 to 25 ± 12) on the cryptorchid side, and in the normal range (greater than 50 per 50 tubular transverse sections) on the normal side. Both groups of bilateral cryptorchid patients had very low counts of spermatogonia on both testicular sides (means of 7 ± 4 to 14 ± 8). Their FSH responses to LHRH at both dosages were significantly increased when compared with the normal prepubertal responses and similar to those of the pubertal control groups. LH responses to LHRH were identical for both cryptorchid groups and prepubertal control groups. These data suggest that the negative feedback mechanism between FSH secretion and the seminiferous tubules present in the adult male may be also operative in the prepubertal boy. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab.46: 301, 1977)