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Purpose: Inhibin-B is produced by Sertoli cells and decreased values might be associated with impaired fertility potential. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of bilateral orchidopexy on serum inhibin-B and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)., Methods: A cohort study including 208 bilateral cryptorchid boys (median age: 1.7 year) was evaluated with serum inhibin-B and FSH in relation to histological parameters. Based on the fertility potential, the boys were divided into three subgroups. At follow-up (median age: 2.7 years) the boys were evaluated with FSH and in case of inhibin-B using multiple of the median (MoM)., Results: Inhibin-B MoM improved significantly at follow-up. In 32 boys with high FSH at orchidopexy 63% normalized FSH and 59% increased MoM inhibin-B, but 31% had impaired inhibin-B at follow-up. In 105 boys with transient hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, 52% increased inhibin-B MoM but 31% had impaired inhibin-B at follow-up. In 71 boys with normal FSH, inhibin-B, and G/T, 54% increased inhibin-B MoM and 15% had impaired inhibin-B at follow-up. The effect of the surgery was best in patients younger than 1 year., Conclusion: Orchidopexy, especially before 1 year of age, improves the fertility potential in bilateral cryptorchidism. At follow-up, 26% (54/208) had a risk of infertility based on inhibin-B.

Introduction: Positive staining of testicular germ cells for PLAP and c-Kit beyond infancy may be associated with the presence of GCNIS (Germ Cell Neoplasia In Situ). We recently reported our findings of positive staining of normal, infantile germ cells for PLAP, and c-Kit up to 2 years of age, contrary to previous studies. The present study aims to elucidate whether otherwise normal testes of boys undergoing puberty express PLAP, c-Kit, Oct3/4, or D2-40., Materials and Methods: Biopsies were taken from 31 boys (11.5-16.5 years of age, mean and median of 13.5 years), who underwent surgery either for torsion of the testis (15) or a history suspicious of intermittent torsion of the testis (16). 21 were biopsied on both sides, making a total of 52 biopsies. Four testes were necrotic. The biopsies were fixed in Stieve's medium, cut into 2 μm sections, and mounted on coated slides. One slide was processed for H-E, and the others incubated with primary antibody for PLAP, c-Kit, D2-40, and Oct3/4., Results: 87% of the boys stained positive for both PLAP and c-Kit. None were positive for either D2-40 or Oct3/4. None had any histological features characteristic of GCNIS. Only two boys showed no signs of having initiated spermatogenesis. Those positive for PLAP were likewise for c-Kit, and vice versa, except 2; one boy, 13 years, was positive for PLAP, but negative for c-KIT, another, 16 years, was negative for PLAP and positive for c-Kit. Three boys stained positive for PLAP and c-Kit on the right side, and negative on the left. One boy was negative for c-Kit on the right side, positive on the left, and positive for PLAP bilaterally., Conclusion: Positive staining of testicular germ cells for PLAP and c-Kit seems to be a normal finding in boys not having completed puberty. Rather than indicating pre-malignant transformation, the positivity is indicative of an ongoing maturational process of the germ cells.