When rat testes were surgically forced to remain in the abdomen for a month, weight of testicular glands was strongly reduced. By histological examination of these testes, interstitial cells were not apparently influenced, but seminiferous tubules containing Sertoli cells showed remarkable atrophy. On the other hand, as weights of seminal vesicles and prostates were found significantly reduced by the experimental bilateral cryptorchidism, the suppression of in vivo androgen production and its secretion in the abdominal testis was suggested. Androgen production from pregnenolone in vitro by the testicular homogenates of cryptorchid rats was found lower than from testes in the scrotum. The activity of Δ5-3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the microsomal fraction on the basis of mg protein was reduced to 40% of the activity of the intact testes on the 31st day after the operation and its activity per organ was accordingly further reduced to 16% of the intact testes, indicating that this enzyme activity or it...
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Inano et al. (1968) studied this question.