390 Descent of the Testicle 



longitudinal incision was made in the tunica albuginea, measuring about y^ 

 of the length of the organ so as to enable the removal of the entire parenchyma, 

 care being taken to clean up the remnants of the testicular pulp which possibly 

 might have remained adherent. A small ovoid paraffin mass of shape and size 

 nearly equal to that of the testicle was then introduced into the cavity of the 

 albuginea; at last the incision was then sutured with extra fine catgut. The 

 operation was always performed on both sides. On the first days after the 

 operation the substituted organ was pushed back and forth towards the ab- 

 domen in order to avoid adhesions which might easily be formed as a result 

 of the irritation caused by such a foreign body and which, in case of fixing the 

 "testicle," would invalidate the experiment. 



In the rhesus monkey operation by the abdominal route, in order to spare 

 the inguino-scrotal region, is not possible. In one preadolescent animal with 

 testes still in the canal the operation was performed through an incision of 

 the inguinal wall; in the other three it was performed by way of the scrotum. 



Extirpation of the Scrotal Pouch: In 5 rats weighing from 150 to 200 gm., 

 of course not subjected to the operation with paraffin pellets, the whole skin 

 of the scrotum was extirpated, including the entire region which normally 

 covers the testicles. In 2 of them the cremaster was also extirpated. 



Treatment: In 4 rats, injection was begun 3 to 1 1 months after the opera- 

 tion; 5 mg. of testosterone prepionate* in 0.5 to 1.0 cc. of sesame oil were given 

 every 3 to 5 days; in rhesus monkeys, starting from 2 to 4 months after the 

 operation, 10 mg. doses were given at the same intervals. 



Results 



Of the 17 rats operated and with artificial testes substituted 1 1 were impaired 

 for experimental purposes by local inflammatory reactions, ulcerations, and 

 irremovable adhesions. In the other 6 the result was favorable, the "tes- 

 ticles" being fairly movable, remaining in the scrotal pouch during the first 

 days, and subject to the same mobility as that which is observed in normal 

 animals. For instance, they responded very well to mechanical and thermic 

 stimulants, ascending to the abdomen when the rats were placed at 6° to 10° C, 

 and descending again when the temperature of the environment rose to 

 25° to30°C. 



From 2 to 5 weeks later, as the endocrine secretion of the gonad was lack- 

 ing, the false "testes" ascended to the canal and abdomen, remaining there 

 indefinitely in the animals not subjected to hormonal treatment. 



Four rats, operated from 3 to 1 1 months before, were employed for ex- 

 periments on the action of injected androgenic products. The effects were 

 relatively rapid; even 5 to 10 days after the beginning of the treatment 

 the "testicles" were seen to have moved towards the scrotal pouch being en- 

 gaged in the canal or in the upper third of the scrotum. Within 15 days descent 

 was completely achieved, the "testicles" remaining thereafter consistently in 



* We are grateful to the Schering Corporation for the donation of the hormonal material. 



