Skip to main content
Download PDF
  • Cryptorchide
  • Published:

Cryptorchidie et température testiculaire

Cryptorchidism and testicular temperature

Andrologie volume 5, pages 317–325 (1995)Cite this article

Resume

Le testicule migre en situation scrotale avant la naissance. Cette migration est associée à une réduction de la température de l’environnement thermique du testicule, la température de la cavité intrascrotale étant plus basse que celle du corps. Ceci aboutit à la création d’un gradient thermique entre le testicule et le corps, gradient qui existe déjà chez l’enfant impubère. En cas d’arrêt de la migration du testicule (cryptorchidie), la température du testicule cryptorchide est plus élevée que celle du testicule controlatéral normalement descendu. Il n’existe aucune donnée chez l’homme permettant d’affirmer que l’élévation de la température du testicule cryptorchide est responsable des perturbations de la spermatogénèse classiquement observées. Nous ne savons pas non plus si l’abaissement du testicule en situation scrotale permet le rétablissement d’une température testiculaire normale.

Les hommes adultes ayant un antécédent de cryptorchidie représentent environ 10% des hommes inféconds. Parmi ces hommes inféconds anciennement cryptorchides, 45% ont une température scrotale anormalement élevée. Cette élévation anormale de la température scrotale est un facteur de risque péjoratif pour ces hommes: ils ont des volumeticulaires plus petits, une production de spermatozoïdes moindre, et une fréquence de stérilité primaire plus élevée que les inféconds anciennement cryptorchides mais ayant des températures scrotales normales.

Abstract

The testis migrates to a scrotal location before birth. This physiological descent is associated with a reduction in the temperature of the testicular environment since the temperature of the scrotal cavity is lower than that of the body one. This leads to the etablishment of a themperature gradient between the testis and the body which already exists in prepubertal boys.

In cases of testicular maldescent (cryptorchidism), the temperature of the testis in its cryptorchid location is much higher than that of the normally descended contrlateral testis. However, there are no data obtained from human studies to establish wether the increased temperature of a cryptorchid testis is responsible for the spermatogenic perturbations typically observed. Nor do we know wether the relocation of a cryptorchid testis to the scrotum permits re-establishment of a normal testicular temperature.

Adult men with a history of cryptorchidism constitute about 10% of infertile men, and among these previously cryptorchid infertile men 45% have an abnormally elevated scrotal temperature. This abnormal increase in scrotal temperature is a negative risk factor for fertility: these men have smaller testicular volumes, a more severely impaired spermatogenesis and a higher prevalence of primary infertility than previously cryptorchid infertile than previously cryptorchid infertile men with normal scrotal temperature. However, data provided until now do not allow to know whether elevated temperature is due to the decreased testicular size (hypotrophy) or is a consequence of cryptorchidism per se.

References

  1. CARRIZA C., ANTIBA A., PALARRI J., PISTONO C., MORANA F. ALARCON M.: Testicular maldescent and infertility. Andrologia, 1990, 22: 285–288.

    Google Scholar 

  2. CHILVERS C., DUDLEY N. E., GOUGH M. H., JACKSON M. B., PIKE M. C.: Undescended testis: the effect of treatment on subsequent risk of subfertility and malignancy. J. Pediatr. Surg., 1986, 21: 691–696.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. ELDER J. S.: The undescended testis. Surg. Clin. North. Am., 1988, 68: 983–1005.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. FRANKENHUIS M.T., WENSING C.J.S.: Induction of spermatogenesis in the naturally cryptorchid pig. Fertil. Steril., 1979, 31: 428–433.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. FUKUI N.: Action of body temperature on the testicule. Japan Med. World, 1923, 3: 160–165.

    Google Scholar 

  6. JEGOU B., PEAKE R.A., IRBY D.C., DE KRETSER M.: Effects of the induction of experimental cryptorchidism and subsequent orchidopexy on testicular function in immature rats. Biol. Reprod., 1984, 30: 179–187.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. JOHN RADCLIFFE HOSPITAL CRYPTORCHIDISM STUDY GROUP: Cryptorchidum: a prospective study of 7 500 consecutive male births, 1984–8. Arch. Dis. Child., 1992, 67: 892–899.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. KITAYAMA T: Study on testicular temperature in man. Acta Urol. Jap., 1965, 11: 435–437.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. KORMANO M.: An angiographic study of the vascular testicular vasculature in the post-natal rat. Z. Anat. Entwick., 1967, 126: 138–153.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. LEE P.A., BELLINGER M.F., SONGER N.J., O’LEARY L., FISHBOURG R., LAPORTE R.: An epidemiologic study of paternity after cryptorchidism: initial results. Eur. J. Pediatr., 1993, 152 (suppl 2): 525–527.

    Google Scholar 

  11. LIPSHULTZ L.I.: Cryptorchidism in subfertile male. Fertil. Steril., 1976, 27: 609–620.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. MIEUSSET R.: Cryptorchidie et cancer du testicule. Andrologie, 1994, 2: 190–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. MIEUSSET R., BUJAN L.: The potential effect of mild testicular heating as a safe, effective and reversible contraceptive method for men. Int. J. Androl., 1994 in press.

  14. MIEUSSET R., BUJAN L., MANSAT A., PONTONNIER F., GRANDJEAN H.: Hyperthermia and human spermatogenesis: enhancement of the inhibitory effect obtained by artificial cryptorchidism. Int. J. Androl., 1987a, 10: 571–580.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. MIEUSSET R., BUJAN L., MANSAT A., PONTONNIER F., GRANDJEAN H.: Effect of artificial cryptorchidism on human spermatogenesis. Fertil. Steril., 1987b, 47: 150–156.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. MIEUSSET R., BUJAN L., MASSAT G., MANSAT A., PONTONNIER F.: Clinical and biological characteristics of infertile men with a history of cryptorchidism. Human Reprod., 1994, in press.

  17. MIEUSSET R., FOUDA P.J., VAYSSE Ph., GUITARD J., MOSCOVICI J., JUSKIEWENSKI S.: Increase in testicular temperature in case of cryptorchidism in boys. Fertil. Steril., 1993, 59: 1319–1321.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. PURI P., O’DONNELL B.: Semen analysis of patients who had orchidopexy at or after seven years of age. Lancet, 1988, ii: 1051–1052.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. PURI P., SPARNON A.: Relationship of primary site of testis to final testicular size in cryptorchid patients. Brit. J. Urol., 1990, 66: 208–210.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. ZORGNIOTTI A.W., MACLEOOD J.: Study in temperature, human semen quality and varicocele. Fertil. Steril., 1973, 24: 854–863.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. ZORGNIOTTI A.W., SEALFON A.: Measurement of intrascrotal temperature in normal and subfertile men. J. Reprod. Fert., 1988, 82: 563–566.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de Stérilité Masculine, Hôpital La Grave, Toulouse et Laboratoire d’Histologie, Hôpital Rangueil, Toulouse

    R. Mieusset

Authors
  1. R. Mieusset
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mieusset, R. Cryptorchidie et température testiculaire. Androl. 5, 317–325 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03034336

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03034336

Mots clés

Key words

Basic and Clinical Andrology

ISSN: 2051-4190