Transplantation of the testis; from the past to the present

Since the development of surgery, the possibility of testis transplantation has fascinated man for centuries. Hunter and Berthold are considered to be the most important investigators in this field and, in addition, to be the founders of modern endocrinology. The association of testis transplantation with rejuvenation led to widespread popularity for this treatment in the first three decades of the twentieth century. At the same time, controversies concerning the aim of the treatment have coloured the early years of endocrinology. In the 1960s renewed interest in the subject arose for experimental reasons, leading to the development of microsurgical techniques for autotransplantation of high-lying undescended testes in children. Homologous testis transplantation has never become a subject of great interest, probably for ethical reasons. This possible treatment for hypogonadism, however, has been developed experimentally and has been performed in man only in Russia and China, evidently with success. The details of these studies and their outcomes are discussed.