Abstract
Testicular biopsies were performed in 25 prepubertal cryptorchid patients. In each biopsy, all tubules and germ cells were counted and germ cell per tubule (GC/T) were calculated. The mean germ cell counts were reduced in all age groups. Compared with previous studies of European and North American institutions, germ cell counts were markedly reduced even in children aged one year old. In relation to the position of the testes. there were less germ cell counts in the testes located above external inguinal ring than in the suprascrotal testes. Although this histological study clearly showed germ cell reduction in all specimens, there was no treatment option after orchiopexy. As a result, histological finding was not practically useful for each patient and his family at present.
