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Updated: May 31, 2026

Germ Cell Transplantation and Testis Tissue Xenografting in Mice
Published on: February 6, 2012
Embryology of the testicular descent
Henning C Fiegel1, Udo Rolle, Roman Metzger
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. henning.fiegel@kgu.de
Abstract:
Numerous researchers studied the morphology of the testicular descent, including the possible function of the gubernaculum. However, a clear illustration of this process is still missing. The aim of this paper was to illustrate the embryology of the testicular descent in the rat by scanning electron microscopy. In a first phase of the intra-abdominal testicular descent, the testis moves actively from the lower pole of the kidney towards the bladder neck. In a second inguinal phase the testis enters groin and moves in the developing processus vaginalis peritonei caused by the disappearance of the bulb of the gubernaculums testis.
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