Skip to main content
Log in

The separation of the epididymis and the abnormal attachment of the gubernaculum cause undescendence in the rat testes

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Pediatric Surgery International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Epididymal anomalies are common in cryptorchid patients. This led us to consider that anomalies of the epididymis, to which the gubernaculum is attached, or abnormal attachment of the cranial end of the gubernaculum, could lead to cryptorchidism.

Methods

Twenty-eight male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into two groups: In Group 1 rats (n = 14), the epididymis was isolated from the testis, and in Group 2 rats (n = 14), the gubernaculum was isolated from the epididymis and re-attached to the tail of the epididymis. In both groups, the non-operated testes were used as the control.

Results

In Group 1, cryptorchidism rates were 1/14 in the control testes and 8/14 in the operated testes (p < 0.01). In Group 2, cryptorchidism rates were 0/13 in the control testes and 6/13 in the operated testes (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Cryptorchidism was seen when the epididymis was loosely or non-connected to the testis and the gubernaculum was attached solely to the epididymis (mimicking anomalies of ductal fusion) and when the gubernaculum was attached to the tail of the epididymis (mimicking anomalies of ductal suspension). Therefore epididymal anomalies and abnormal attachment of the gubernaculum may play a role in the undescendence of the testes in the rats.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hutson JM (2013) Journal of Pediatric Surgery-Sponsored Fred McLoed Lecture. Undescended testis: the underlying mechanisms and the effects on germ cells that cause infertility and cancer. J Pediatr Surg 48(5):903–908

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Nation TR, Buraundi S, Farmer PJ, Balic A, Newgreen D, Southwell BR, Hutson JM (2011) Development of the gubernaculum during testicular descent in the rat. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 294(7):1249–1260. doi:10.1002/ar.21393

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Virtanen HE, Toppari J (2008) Epidemiology and pathogenesis of cryptorchidism. Hum Reprod Update 14(1):49–58

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Toppari J, Rodprasert W, Virtanen HE (2014) Cryptorchidism-disease or symptom? Ann Endocrinol (Paris) 75(2):72–76. doi:10.1016/j.ando.2014.04.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Gill B, Kogan SJ, Starr S, Reda E, Levitt S (1989) Significance of epididymal and ductal anomalies associated with testicular maldescent. J Urol 142:556–558

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Mollaeian M, Mehrabi V, Elahi B (1994) Significance of epididymal and ductal anomalies associated with undescended testis: study in 652 cases. Pediatr Urol 43(6):857–860

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Mininberg DT, Schlossberg S (1983) The role of the epididymis in testicular descent. J Urol 129(6):1207–1208

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Marshall FF, Shermeta DW (1979) Epididymal abnormalities associated with undescended testis. J Urol 121:341–343

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Koff WJ, Scaletsky R (1990) Malformations of the epididymis in undescended testis. J Urol 143:340–343

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Heath AL, Man WK, Eckstein HB (1984) Epididymal abnormalities associated with maldescent of the testis. J Pediatr Surg 19(1):47–49

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kuçukaydin M, Ozokutan BH, Turan C, Okur H, Köse O (1998) Malformation of the epididymis in undescended testis. Pediatr Surg Int 14(3):189–191

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Favorito LA, Sampaio FJB, Javaroni V, Cardoso LEM, Costa WS (2000) Proximal insertion of gubernaculum testis in normal human fetuses and in boys with cryptorchidism. J Urol 164:792–794

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Favorito LA, Costa WS, Sampaio FJB (2006) Analysis of anomalies of the epididymis and processus vaginalis in human fetuses and in patients with cryptorchidism treated and untreated with human chorionic gonadotrophin. BJU Int 98:854–857

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Karahan S (2009) Fötal ve neonatal hayvan modellerinin özellikleri. In: Çakmak AM, Karagüzel G, Soyer T, Günaydın S, Karahan S (eds) Çocuk Cerrahisinde Deneysel Araştırmalar, 1st edn. Çocuk Cerrahisi Derneği, Özkan Matbaacılık, Ankara, pp 35–38

    Google Scholar 

  15. Fiegel HC, Rolle U, Metzger R, Gfroerer S, Kluth D (2011) Embryology of the testicular descent. Semin Pediatr Surg 20(3):170–175

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Acer T (2012) Epididim anomalileri ile inmemiş testis arasındaki ilişki nedir? Ender bir olgu, yeni bir tedavi yöntemi ve literatür incelemesi. Çocuk Cerrahisi Dergisi 26(1–2):84–88

    Google Scholar 

  17. Abe T, Aoyama K, Gotoh T, Akiyama T, Iwamura Y, Kumori K (1996) Cranial attachment of the gubernaculum associated with undescended testis. J Pediatr Surg 31(5):652–655

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Hutson JM, Balic A, Nation T, Southwell B (2010) Cryptorchidism. Semin Pediatr Surg 19(3):215–224

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

We thank Mustafa Agah Tekindal for his help with the statistical analysis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tuğba Acer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Acer, T., Hiçsönmez, A. The separation of the epididymis and the abnormal attachment of the gubernaculum cause undescendence in the rat testes. Pediatr Surg Int 30, 1155–1161 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-014-3596-5

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-014-3596-5

Keywords

Navigation