Leydig Insulin-Like Hormone, Gubernacular Development and Testicular Descent

Abstract

Insl3 mutants show feminized gubernaculum with deficient mesenchymal core. Insl3 appears to have some role in the gubernacular swelling reaction in mice.

Testicular descent and cryptorchidism: the state of the art in 2004

“…This showed that Insl3, augmented by either MIS/AMH or dihydrotestosterone, caused similar levels of mitosis as the testis control [19][20][21]. In addition, we were able to show that the fetal gubernaculum contained the putative Insl3 receptor as well as the MIS/AMH type II receptor [22,23].…”

In utero exposure to mono-n-butyl phthalate impairs insulin-like factor 3 gene expression and the transabdominal phase of testicular descent in fetal rats

“…Recently, several investigators have suggested that Leydig INSL3 plays an important role in both gubernacular development and transabdominal testicular descent [11,12,19,20]. In addition, INSL3-deficient mutant mice have been reported to exhibit bilateral abdominal UT owing to an impaired development of the gubernaculum [11,12].…”

Transabdominal testicular descent is disrupted in mice with deletion of insulinlike factor 3 receptor

“…No central core of mesenchyme was found in the Insl3 mutants. 4,18 The gubernacular development begins between embryonic day 15.5 to 17.5 and is characterized by rapid proliferation of mesenchymal cells and differentiation of outer layers into myoblasts. 2,19 Insl3 is thought to target the mesenchymal core of the gubernaculum.…”