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Review
. 2022;29(2):201-210.
doi: 10.15388/Amed.2022.29.2.6. Epub 2022 Jun 29.

Gubernaculum and Epididymo-Testicular Descent: Review of the Literature

Eleonora Ivanova  1 , Beata Vincel  2 , Gilvydas Verkauskas  2 , Faruk Hadziselimovic  3
Affiliations
Review

Gubernaculum and Epididymo-Testicular Descent: Review of the Literature

Eleonora Ivanova et al. Acta Med Litu. 2022.

Abstract
in English, Lithuanian

Cryptorchidism is a common disorder in boys that has been widely studied both experimentally and clinically. The role of the gubernaculum, a mesenchymal tissue extending from the fetal testis and epididymis to the developing scrotum, is still unclear. Even the name is debated: 'gubernaculum epididymis' or 'gubernaculum testis'. This review does not aim to provide a global overview of competing theories on testicular descent, but focuses on the role of the gubernaculum in epididymo-testicular descent. We identified four major pitfalls of gubernaculum research: the role of the gubernaculum, of insulin-like peptide 3, anti-Müllerian hormone, and androgens. The major critical issues were that the gubernaculum plays a guiding role for the epididymis, descending prior to the testis and expanding the inguinal canal; insulin-like peptide 3 is not as important for the process of descent in humans as the rate of insulin-like peptide 3 mutations is low; anti-Müllerian hormone plays no significant role in epididymo-testicular descent; androgens and gonadotropins play a crucial role in epididymo-testicular descent. The role of the epididymis in the complex process of gubernaculum, epididymis, and testis migration is underestimated and should be included in future research.

Nunusileidusios sėklidės (kriptorchizmas) yra dažna vyriškų lytinių organų patologija. Sėklidės pavadis (lot. gubernaculum testis) – mezenchiminis audinys tarp vaisiaus sėklidės ir prielipo bei besiformuojančio kapšelio. Jo reikšmė sėklidei ir prielipui nusileisti nėra aiški. Šios apžvalgos tikslas nėra įvertinti vienų kitoms prieštaraujančių sėklidės nusileidimo teorijų, o susitelkiama ties sėklidės pavadžio (ar dar kitaip vadinamo prielipo pavadžio) svarba sėklidei nusileisti. Mes kėlėme šiuos pagrindinius klausimus apie sėklidės pavadį: sėklidės pavadžio svarba, į insuliną panašaus hormono 3, antimiulerinio hormono ir androgenų reikšmė. Sėklidės pavadis atlieka tik orientacinį vaidmenį prielipui ir leidžiasi prieš sėklidę plėsdamas kirkšnies kanalą. Į insuliną panašus hormonas nėra svarbus sėklidei nusileisti, nes žmonių populiacijos šio geno mutacijos yra retos. Antimiulerinis hormonas neatlieka reikšmingo vaidmens, kad sėklidė ir prielipas nusileistų. Androgenai ir gonadotropinai yra svarbiausi, kad įvyktų sėklidės ir prielipo nusileidimas. Prielipo reikšmė sudėtingame pavadžio, prielipo ir sėklidės migracijos procese yra nepakankamai įvertinta.

Keywords: Insl3; cryptorchidism; epididymo-testicular descent; gubernaculum.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Laparascopic view of an intra-abdominal testis showing prior descent of the body and tail of the epididymis
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Prescrotal testis showing prior descent of the body and tail of the epididymis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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