Thales Martins 393 



In the clinical case published by various auihois, references are made to 

 surprisingly quick results from hormones in the treatment of testicular ectopy; 

 although they rouse a certain skepticism, it is not impossible that the result 

 really derives from the therapy, as the functional action of testosterone can be 

 manifested within a matter of hours, as experimentally demonstrated by us. 



In cases of pseudocryptorchidism, as Hamilton calls such spastic retentions, 

 the influence of the hormone must be primarily functional; in fact, Hamilton 

 and Hubert" were able to induce in 12 patients a permanent descent of the 

 testicles, using doses of androgens insufficient to provoke erections and scrotal 

 growth. Such clinical results may be regarded as harmonizing with the physi- 

 ologic data discussed in the present paper. 



Summary 



Experiments were performed in rats and rhesus monkeys in which the testicu- 

 lar parenchyma was replaced by paraffin pellets inserted into the tunica 

 albuginea cavity. In rats, some days after the operation, the "artificial testicles" 

 ascend towards the inguinal canal or the abdomen, remaining there; but after 

 injections of testosterone propionate they completely descend to the scrotal 

 pouch at the end of 10 to 15 days of treatment. In rhesus monkeys there also 

 was an appreciable but less pronounced descent, due perhaps to the fact that 

 in this species postoperative adhesions are formed with greater frequency. 



In a group of rats which was not subjected to the experiment with paraffin 

 pellets but in which the scrotal pouch was completely extirpated, we verified 

 the fact that the testes remained in their descended position thanks to the dis- 

 tension of the extragenital skin. Thus it becomes evident that, in rats at least, 

 the scrotum is not an active factor in inducing testicular descent. 



The results of testosterone propionate in rats with paraffin pellets show that 

 the action of this hormone can appear without any modification of the con- 

 sistency, size, or endocrine activity of the gonads, as the animals, though having 

 a "mechanical testicle" are castrated. The action of the hormone is, conse- 

 quently, extragonadal, controlling the growth and contractility of the testicu- 

 lar adnexa. 



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