No abstract

It is well known that the mammalian testes placed under artificial cryptorchidism undergo a progressive degeneration of the germinal epithelium. MOORE et al.(') and FUKUI(*) ascribed the cause of the sper= matogenic arrest in this condition to slightly higher temperature in the peritoneal cavity than that of the scrotum. Studies from various angles on the testicular damage caused by -this physical factor, it is hoped, may clear the way to approach the intricate problem concerning the spermatogenesis.Changes of enzyme activities occurring in the cryptorchid testes have been already reported by several workers. Hyaluronidase was investigated by SPRUNT et al.(a) and LEONARD et al.(*). Recently, STEINBERGER and NELSON'^) noted that the hyaluronidase content in the testes of experimentally cryptorchidized rats diminished significantly by the 4th day after the operation and was substantially zero by the 10th day. Esterase was studied by HUGGINS and MOULT ON(^). Employing histochemical techniques, VERNE et a1. (7). studied on lipase and MORII(~) on lipase, esterase and phosphatases.Although considerable attention has been paid to the above-mentioned enzymes, nothing is known of testicular /?-glucuronidase in this condition. The present study has dealt primarily with changes of 8-glucuronidase level in the testes of the rats placed under unilateral and bilateral experimental cryptorchidisms and the results were compared with those of lipase and of esterase. In addition, the changes in enzyme contents have been correlated with concurrent histochemical and histological changes in the testes.