The expression of neural cell adhesion molecule and Oct-4 in cryptorchid testes

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expressions of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and Octamer transcription factor-4 (OCT-4) in cryptorchid testes.Methods This study recruits 50 specimens from 48 children with cryptorchidism with a mean age of 3 years (range, 0.5-13.1 years).The specimens were collected by testicular biopsy during orchidopexy.Of the 48 patients, 43 had unilateral and 5 with bilateral cryptorchidism.The expressions of NCAM and (OCT-4 in seminiferous tubule or Leydig cells were detected by immunohistochemistry staining.Results The pathological expression, which was characterized by NCAM was positive in seminiferous tubule and Leydig cells, was 58%(29/50).Positive NCAM pathological expression in seminiferous tubule was 30% (15/50) with no relationship to the testicular locations or patients' age.Negative NCAM pathological expression in Leydig cells was 32% (16/50) with no relationship to the testicular locations.However, NCAM pathological expression in Leydig cells significantly increased with age (P 0.05).Conclusions The pathological expressions of NCAM and OCT-4 in cryptorchid testes indicate the migration and differentiation of gonocytes may be affected or delayed.NCAM and OCT-4 can be used as new diagnostic predictors for the infertility potential and carcinogenesis in cryptorchidism. Key words: Cryptorchidism; Neural cell adhesion molecule; Octamer transcription factor-4; Infertility