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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.

Differentiation; Research in Biological Diversity
|August 12, 2022
PubMed
Summary

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.

Keywords:
Germinal ridgeMesonephrosPrimordial germ cellsTestisUrogenital ridge

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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.