Objectives: Testis are reproductive and endocrine organs in males. Morphological, functional and maturational aspects of the human fetal testis are unique. Fetal testis produces testosterone, specifically fetal gonadal hormone: anti-mullerian hormone, plays important role in induction & regulation of male sexual differentiation.
Methods: Fetal testis of varying gestational ages was studied on 55 autopsied fetuses obtained from the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, GMCH, Chandigarh, India.
Results: As gestational age advanced it capsule became thicker, more folded and compacted. Connective tissue septae invading the parenchyma of testis became deeper as age advanced and divided the testis into complete/incomplete lobules. The parenchyma divided into outer 1/4th dark zone and inner 3/4th light zone, differentiated into testicular cords and interstitium. As age advanced, the testicular cords started coiling with variable shapes and were surrounded by 2-3 layers of peritubular tissue. The number of Leydig cells increased upto 20 weeks, thereafter the number and size reduced progressively.
Conclusion: The literature available on histological changes of human fetal testis is scanty. The present work observed various cell populations at different gestational ages. The knowledge of histology of testis is important in case of undescended testis, cryptorchidism, hypospadias, ectopic testis, inguinal hernias, infertility, and testicular tumors.
Impact Factor
2022: 6.012
This work is licensed under a