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An update on male infertility and intratesticular testosterone—insight into novel serum biomarkers

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 34, pages 673–678 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Intratesticular testosterone is vital for spermatogenesis, male fertility, and virility. Currently the only method to assess levels of intratesticular testosterone is to perform testicular biopsy which is invasive and can lead to several complications. Approaches to assess intratesticular testosterone have been understudied but hold promise as future male contraceptive agents and may grant the ability to monitor patients undergoing hormonal changes from therapeutic and diagnostic perspectives. Previous studies have sought to assess the utility of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) as accurate surrogate biomarkers of intratesticular testosterone. The aim of this review is thus to highlight the importance of intratesticular testosterone and the consequent advances that have been made to elucidate the potential of biomarkers for intratesticular testosterone in the context of male infertility.

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Fig. 1: An overview of 17-OHP and INSL3 as it relates to ITT.
Fig. 2: The biosynthesis of 17-OHP and testosterone.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Karim Sidhom, Kapilan Panchendrabose, Uday Mann & Premal Patel

  2. Section of Urology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Uday Mann & Premal Patel

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KS was responsible for conception and design, acquisition, analysis, interpretation of data, drafting, revising, and final approval of the work. KP was responsible for design, acquisition, analysis, interpretation of data, drafting, revising, and final approval of the work. UM was responsible for interpretation of data, drafting, revising, and final approval of the work. PP was responsible for conception and design, acquisition, analysis, interpretation of data, drafting, revising, and final approval of the work. All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

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Correspondence to Premal Patel.

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Sidhom, K., Panchendrabose, K., Mann, U. et al. An update on male infertility and intratesticular testosterone—insight into novel serum biomarkers. Int J Impot Res 34, 673–678 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-021-00507-7

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