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Testicular morphology in the 47XXY fetus at 16 weeks gestation
Author(s) -
Rock John A.,
Rock William A.,
Rary Jack
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/0020-7292(82)90052-2
Subject(s) - medicine , fetus , gestation , in utero , testicular atrophy , aplasia , atrophy , obstetrics , gynecology , pregnancy , physiology , pathology , endocrinology , genetics , biology
The testis from two 47XXY fetuses (20 weeks) revealed histologic features not dissimilar from that observed in a normal 46XY fetus of similar gestational age. These findings support the observation that the loss of germ cells in patients with Klinefelter's syndrome is an event which begins in infancy and not in utero and progresses through early childhood and the prepubertal period. At puberty germinal aplasia may be complete with clinical evidence of testicular atrophy.