Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

15:27
Construction of Vapor Chambers Used to Expose Mice to Alcohol During the Equivalent of all Three Trimesters of Human Development
Published on: July 13, 2014
Prenatal alcohol exposure and cryptorchidism
M S Jensen1, J P Bonde, J Olsen
1Department of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark. morten@sondergaard-jensen.dk
Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|September 25, 2007
Summary
Maternal average weekly alcohol intake did not increase the risk of cryptorchidism in boys. However, prenatal binge drinking may be a risk factor for orchiopexy, a surgery for undescended testes.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Pediatric Urology
- Environmental Epidemiology
Background:
- Previous studies suggested a link between maternal alcohol consumption and cryptorchidism.
- Cryptorchidism, or undescended testes, is a common congenital condition in male infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prenatal alcohol exposure and persistent cryptorchidism.
- To re-evaluate the risk of cryptorchidism with varying levels of maternal alcohol intake.
Main Methods:
- Prospective data collection on 5716 boys from 1984-1987.
- 16-19 years of follow-up using a nationwide patient register.
- Diagnosis of 270 cryptorchidism cases, with 185 undergoing orchiopexy.
Main Results:
- No significant association found between average weekly alcohol consumption and persistent cryptorchidism.
- Binge drinking showed a non-significant trend towards increased risk for orchiopexy (aRR=1.4).
- Binge drinking was not associated with cryptorchidism diagnosis without orchiopexy.
Conclusions:
- Maternal average weekly alcohol intake is not associated with persistent cryptorchidism.
- Prenatal binge alcohol exposure may represent a risk factor for cryptorchidism requiring surgical intervention (orchiopexy).
Related Concept Videos
Infertility in Males
Male infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, arising from various factors that impact different stages of the reproductive process. An endocrine imbalance resulting from conditions like hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, or pituitary disorders can disrupt hormone levels and reduce sperm production. Testicular defects, such as tumors, cryptorchidism, atrophic testes, abnormal sperm morphology, and low sperm count or motility, may arise due to genetic factors, structural...
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis is the process by which haploid sperm cells are produced in the male testes. It starts with stem cells located close to the outer rim of seminiferous tubules. These spermatogonial stem cells divide asymmetrically to give rise to additional stem cells (meaning that these structures “self-renew”), as well as sperm progenitors, called spermatocytes. Importantly, this method of asymmetric mitotic division maintains a population of spermatogonial stem cells in the male reproductive...
Nondisjunction
Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers. Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis. Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold sister...
Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Sex-linked Disorders
Like autosomes, sex chromosomes contain a variety of genes necessary for normal body function. When a mutation in one of these genes results in biological deficits, the disorder is considered sex-linked.
The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness
The Y chromosome is a sex chromosome found in several vertebrates and mammals, including humans. In addition to 22 pairs of autosomes, the human males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. In these organisms, the presence or absence of the Y chromosome determines the development of male traits.
Evolution
Around 300 million years ago, the two sex chromosomes diverged from two identical autosomal chromosomes. Over time, the Y chromosome has lost most of its genes, shrinking in size. Today,...
Evolution
Around 300 million years ago, the two sex chromosomes diverged from two identical autosomal chromosomes. Over time, the Y chromosome has lost most of its genes, shrinking in size. Today,...

