Impaired gonadotrophin uptake in vivo by the cryptorchid rat testis

The specific testicular uptake in vivo of 125I-labelled hCG was compared in control adult rats and adult rats made bilaterally cryptorchid 5 weeks previously. Although a similar temporal pattern of uptake was observed in both groups, uptake of hCG by cryptorchid testes was reduced at all times after injection by up to 70%. The possible causes of this impairment were investigated. It could not be accounted for by differences in the rate of absorption or clearance of 125I-labelled hCG in the two groups. Therefore, because hCG-induced increase in the permeability of testicular capillaries is a crucial factor in determining hCG uptake by the testis, this change was compared in control and cryptorchid testes. Although hCG induced a characteristic increase in testicular capillary wall permeability in both groups, this change was temporally delayed in cryptorchid testes, and occurred after hCG values in the blood had fallen. Even when hCG had crossed the capillary wall into testicular interstitial fluid, its uptake into the testicular tissue was significantly lower in cryptorchid than in control testes. These changes probably account for the impairment of gonadotrophin uptake by the cryptorchid testis and have important implications with respect to the aetiology of Leydig cell changes in cryptorchidism.