Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Ex vivo Culture of Drosophila Pupal Testis and Single Male Germ-line Cysts: Dissection, Imaging, and Pharmacological Treatment
Published on: September 11, 2014
Infertility in cryptorchidism is linked to the stage of germ cell development at orchidopexy
Faruk Hadziselimovic1, Burckhard Hocht, Bruno Herzog
1Kindertagesklinik Liestal, Liestal, Switzerland. faruk@magnet.ch
Background:
Cryptorchidism represents the most common endocrine disease in boys, with infertility frequently observed in unilateral as well as bilateral forms. In this study, we examined the role of Ad (dark) spermatogonia for fertility in cryptorchid boys. The hypothesis to be proven was that boys lacking Ad spermatogonia will develop infertility despite a successful orchidopexy at an early age.
Methods:
To estimate total sperm count, one of the most predictive parameters of male fertility, we analyzed the ejaculatein 218 cryptorchid men and correlated it with the developmental stage of their germ cells at the time of successful surgery.
Results:
Abnormal sperm concentration (<40 x 10(6)/ejaculate) was found in half of the patients under the study. 47.5% of unilateral and 78% of bilateral cryptorchid males had their sperm concentration in the infertility range according to the WHO standards. If transformation into Ad spermatogonia had occurred, age-related differences in the fertility outcome was observed. The younger the unilateral cryptorchid boys were at surgery, the higher their sperm count. Age-related difference was not found in the group of cryptorchid men having had no A dark spermatogonia at time of surgery, indicating that in this group a successful orchidopexy is insufficient to prevent infertility development and, in particular, the development of azoospermia.
Conclusion:
The presence of Ad spermatogonia at surgery is an excellent prognostic parameter for future fertility. Cryptorchid boys lacking these cells will develop infertility despite successful orchidopexy at an early age.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus
Near the gonadal ridges, two duct systems are present: the mesonephric ducts (Wolffian ducts) and paramesonephric ducts (Müllerian ducts). These ducts form the basis for the male...
Infertility in Males
Oogenesis
Oogenesis
Each primary oocyte is surrounded by a layer of pre-granulosa cells, forming what is known...
Meiosis II
Nondisjunction

