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Updated: Sep 1, 2025

Using Ex Vivo Upright Droplet Cultures of Whole Fetal Organs to Study Developmental Processes during Mouse Organogenesis
Published on: October 21, 2015
Early development of the human embryonic testis
Marta Himelreich Perić1, Marta Takahashi2, Davor Ježek3
1Scientific Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
Human testicular development begins with the germinal ridge forming on the urogenital ridge around 4 weeks of gestation. Primordial germ cells migrate into developing testicular cords by 6-8 weeks, forming mature structures by the second trimester.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Human Embryology
- Reproductive Medicine
Background:
- Human gonadal development is crucial for reproductive health.
- Previous comprehensive studies are not readily accessible via PubMed.
- Understanding early testicular differentiation is key to identifying developmental abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated, searchable analysis of early human testicular development.
- To detail the histological progression from 4 weeks to 20 weeks of gestation.
- To compare human testicular development with murine models.
Main Methods:
- Histological analysis of human embryo/fetus specimens (33 days to 20 weeks gestation).
- Focus on the formation and cellular composition of the germinal ridge and testicular cords.
- Identification of key developmental stages and cellular interactions.
Main Results:
- The germinal ridge forms from coelomic epithelium on the urogenital ridge by the 4th week.
- Primordial germ cells migrate into the germinal ridge, forming testicular cords by 6-8 weeks.
- Testicular cords mature and become surrounded by myoid cells in the second trimester.
Conclusions:
- Human testicular development involves four key elements: coelomic epithelium, mesenchyme, primordial germ cells, and mesonephros.
- The developmental process shares similarities with mouse testicular development.
- This study offers a detailed, accessible reference for early human testicular organogenesis.
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