Lack of functional compensatory activity of the seminiferous tubules remaining testis in monorchid boys

GRINSPON, R.; HABIB, C.; ROPELATO, M.G.; BALLERINI, M.G.; BEDECARRÁS, P.; GOTTLIEB, S.; REY, R.

Congreso; 9th Joint Meeting of Paediatric Endocrinology; 2013

undergoes compensatory hypertrophy. It is not clear if it can also compensate the function of the absent one. Objective: To investigate testicular function in monorchid boys. Methods: In a retrospective semi-longitudinal study, we compared serum  AMH, testosterone, FSH and LH between 89 monorchid patients, ages 1.1- 18.7 yr, and 421 normal boys. Results: In monorchid boys, AMH was significantly reduced, except in 11- 12.9 yr (Table). FSH was significantly elevated in patients > 13 yr. LH was significantly elevated in groups 11-12.9 yr and >15 yr. Testosterone was significantly reduced only in patients 9-12.9 yr. Similar results were observed when the analysis was performed according to Tanner stages. In a subgroup of 20 monorchid patients in whom a history compatible with gonadal damage of the remaining testis could be ruled out, AMH was significantly reduced as compared to age-matched controls in all groups except the 11-12.9 yr and >15 yr. Testicular volume correlated significantly with AMH in boys 3-9 yr. Conclusions: The correlation between testicular volume and AMH indicates that at least in part Sertoli cell is responsible of compensatory hypertrophy. However, functional compensatory activity is not complete, as suggested by AMH reduction and FSH increase.