Receptivity of the human male and female fetal caudal genital ligament to gonadal hormones
Abstract
In briefCurrent understanding of testicular descent mechanisms, mainly based on rodent models, attributes a central role to testicular hormones. This study examines the hormonal receptivity and potential sex differences of human caudal genital ligaments (also named gubernaculum in males) during organogenesis. Abstract In both sexes, fetal gonads are connected to the abdominal wall by caudal genital ligaments (CGLs). The male CGL (gubernaculum testis) drives testis descent under the influence of testicular hormones, whereas the fate of the female CGL is thought to result from the absence of these hormones. However, the process in humans has not been clearly demonstrated. We here examined the expression patterns of receptors and metabolizing enzymes of gonadal hormones in CGLs collected from male and female human first trimester fetuses and from boys with uni- or bi-lateral cryptorchidism by using real-time quantitative PCR, in situ hybridisation, and when possible, immunostaining. We show that the CGLs of both sexes express receptors for insulin-like factor 3 (RXFP2), androgens, estrogens, and for members of the transforming growth factor beta family during the first trimester of pregnancy. The expression of RXFP2 increased with fetal age in both sexes, was heterogeneous, and was unrelated to proliferation. Androgen receptor expression also tended to increase with age, particularly in males. Notably, five alpha reductase type 2 (SRD5A2) and estrogen receptor (ESR1) mRNA levels increased significantly with age in both sexes, but showed clear sexual dimorphism. In contrast, ACVR2B and BMPR1B mRNA decreased with age in both sexes, unlike stable levels of AMHR2 mRNA. In boys with cryptorchidism, gene expression remained consistent regardless of age, ligament position, or appearance. The expression of male hormone receptors and the increased expression of ESR1 in female CGLs raises questions about their physiological significance and susceptibility to xenoestrogens during early development.
Related
- A cell-intrinsic steroidogenic checkpoint constrains female Th2 effector output independently of gonadal hormones
- Variability of human immunodeficiency virus-1 in the female genital reservoir during genital reactivation of herpes simplex virus type 2
- “We are just blind there”: institutional invisibility of female genital schistosomiasis in South Africa
- Shifting social norms, behavioural intentions and opposition to female genital mutilation: Effectiveness of layered community interventions in a high prevalence setting in Kenya
- Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare professionals on female genital schistosomiasis in the Mabalako health zone, Democratic Republic of the Congo
BibTeX
@article{desdoitslethimonier2026receptivity,
title = {{Receptivity of the human male and female fetal caudal genital ligament to gonadal hormones}},
author = {Christele Desdoits-Lethimonier and Isabelle Coiffec-Dorval and Maryne Toupin and Marie Bey and Audrey Guinot and Vincent Lavoué and Benjamin Fremond and Séverine Mazaud-Guittot and Bernard Jégou},
journal = {Reproduction [Cambridge]},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/reprod/xaag040},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05611353v1},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Receptivity of the human male and female fetal caudal genital ligament to gonadal hormones
AU - Christele Desdoits-Lethimonier
AU - Isabelle Coiffec-Dorval
AU - Maryne Toupin
AU - Marie Bey
AU - Audrey Guinot
AU - Vincent Lavoué
AU - Benjamin Fremond
AU - Séverine Mazaud-Guittot
AU - Bernard Jégou
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Reproduction [Cambridge]
DO - 10.1093/reprod/xaag040
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05611353v1
AB - In briefCurrent understanding of testicular descent mechanisms, mainly based on rodent models, attributes a central role to testicular hormones. This study examines the hormonal receptivity and potential sex differences of human caudal genital ligaments (also named gubernaculum in males) during organogenesis. Abstract In both sexes, fetal gonads are connected to the abdominal wall by caudal genital ligaments (CGLs). The male CGL (gubernaculum testis) drives testis descent under the influence of testicular hormones, whereas the fate of the female CGL is thought to result from the absence of these hormones. However, the process in humans has not been clearly demonstrated. We here examined the expression patterns of receptors and metabolizing enzymes of gonadal hormones in CGLs collected from male and female human first trimester fetuses and from boys with uni- or bi-lateral cryptorchidism by using real-time quantitative PCR, in situ hybridisation, and when possible, immunostaining. We show that the CGLs of both sexes express receptors for insulin-like factor 3 (RXFP2), androgens, estrogens, and for members of the transforming growth factor beta family during the first trimester of pregnancy. The expression of RXFP2 increased with fetal age in both sexes, was heterogeneous, and was unrelated to proliferation. Androgen receptor expression also tended to increase with age, particularly in males. Notably, five alpha reductase type 2 (SRD5A2) and estrogen receptor (ESR1) mRNA levels increased significantly with age in both sexes, but showed clear sexual dimorphism. In contrast, ACVR2B and BMPR1B mRNA decreased with age in both sexes, unlike stable levels of AMHR2 mRNA. In boys with cryptorchidism, gene expression remained consistent regardless of age, ligament position, or appearance. The expression of male hormone receptors and the increased expression of ESR1 in female CGLs raises questions about their physiological significance and susceptibility to xenoestrogens during early development.
SN - 1470-1626
SN - 1741-7899
ER -