Capsaicin increases the frequency of cryptorchidism in flutamide-treated rats

Capsaicin, a specific neurotoxin that irreversibly results in degeneration of sensory C fibers of the peripheral nerves, was investigated for its ability to affect testicular descent. In particular, we investigated the ability of prenatal flutamide, postnatal capsaicin or combined prenatal flutamide with postnatal capsaicin to induce undescended testes in rats. Within these treatment groups the frequency of maldescent was 42% in the animals treated prenatally with flutamide, 32% with postnatal capsaicin, and 100% with prenatal flutamide and postnatal capsaicin. Of interest, it was found that all animals that received capsaicin had maldevelopment of the scrotum. Our data suggest that capsaicin increased the frequency of cryptorchidism in rats prenatally treated with flutamide, perhaps by inhibition of scrotal development. These findings indicate that sensory nerves to the scrotum may affect scrotal development and testicular descent.