MP55-03 CLINICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF THYROID FUNCTION IN THE DIFFERENTIATION PROCESS OF SPERMATOGONIAL STEM CELLS IN CRYPTORCHID TESTES

Abstract

You have accessJournal of UrologyPediatric Urology V (MP55)1 Sep 2021MP55-03 CLINICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF THYROID FUNCTION IN THE DIFFERENTIATION PROCESS OF SPERMATOGONIAL STEM CELLS IN CRYPTORCHID TESTES Kentaro Mizuno, Hidenori Nishio, Daisuke Matsumoto, Taiki Kato, Akihiro Nakane, Tetsuji Maruyama, Takahiro Yasui, and Yutaro Hayashi Kentaro MizunoKentaro Mizuno More articles by this author , Hidenori NishioHidenori Nishio More articles by this author , Daisuke MatsumotoDaisuke Matsumoto More articles by this author , Taiki KatoTaiki Kato More articles by this author , Akihiro NakaneAkihiro Nakane More articles by this author , Tetsuji MaruyamaTetsuji Maruyama More articles by this author , Takahiro YasuiTakahiro Yasui More articles by this author , and Yutaro HayashiYutaro Hayashi More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002085.03AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Boys with cryptorchidism may have a high risk for future fertility. The pool of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in prepubertal testes has been reported to be disrupted in these cases. Spermatogenesis is a complex process in which SSCs undergo differentiation and morphogenesis. A previous study has revealed that SSCs differentiate from gonocytes until 3 months after birth during a period colloquially called “mini-puberty.” However, the factors involved in this cellular differentiation process remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of thyroid hormones in SSC differentiation. METHODS: After obtaining consent from the parents, we performed testicular biopsies in 138 boys with cryptorchidism who underwent orchidopexy at Nagoya City University Hospital between January 2008 and February 2021. We investigated the number of SSCs per seminiferous tubule using anti-DDX4 antibody immunohistochemistry in testicular tissues. We detected congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in 12 boys, who were compared with 126 boys without CH. This study was approved by the institutional review board of our hospital (no. 60180016). RESULTS: The mean age of patients with (Hypo-T group) and without (Normal-T group) CH at surgery was 23.3±14.5 and 34.8±30.4 months, respectively (p=0.45). The mean testicular volume was 0.54±0.27 cm3 (Normal-T group) and 0.62±0.36 cm3 (Hypo-T group) (p=0.30). The number of SSCs per tubule was 0.62±0.59 in the Normal-T group and 2.14±0.69 in the Hypo-T group (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CH, the number of SSCs per tubule was significantly increased, and differentiation to SSCs occurred at a greater degree than in those without CH. We suspected that this was caused by the high thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels during mini-puberty. TSH is similar in structure to follicle-stimulating hormone, and their respective receptors are located in Sertoli cells. A previous study revealed that TSH promotes the proliferation of Sertoli cells, suggesting that Sertoli cells are involved in the SSC differentiation process. It provides a novel therapeutic method for preserving fertility potential in cryptorchid boys through stimulation of Sertoli cell function via thyroid hormones. Source of Funding: None © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e958-e959 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Kentaro Mizuno More articles by this author Hidenori Nishio More articles by this author Daisuke Matsumoto More articles by this author Taiki Kato More articles by this author Akihiro Nakane More articles by this author Tetsuji Maruyama More articles by this author Takahiro Yasui More articles by this author Yutaro Hayashi More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Loading ...