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Abstract

Cryptorchidism, the absence of one or both testes from the scrotum, is a major cause of male infertility due to its negative impact on spermatogenesis. Allogeneic transplantation of undifferentiated Sertoli cells is a potential therapy to restore spermatogenesis in cryptorchid testes. This review evaluates the feasibility and effectiveness of Sertoli cell transplantation as a treatment for cryptorchidism by synthesizing results from experimental models. A systematic search of PubMed and Scopus, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, yielded 560 articles. We mainly focused on studies published between January 2005 and April 2024 that examined Sertoli cell transplantation in cryptorchidism models. Data on molecular and cellular outcomes, transplantation techniques, and success rates were extracted. The review analyzes the potential of Sertoli cell transplantation to restore spermatogenesis, discussing factors such as immunomodulatory properties, long-term survival, and performance of the transplanted cells. Gaps in research, especially regarding cell delivery optimization, are highlighted. Although encouraging, more study is required to enhance long-term cell viability and functioning. This study underscores the need for forthcoming research, especially in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), to evaluate the therapeutic viability of this therapy method‎.

Keywords: Cryptorchidism, Sertoli cells, Spermatogenesis, Infertility, Transplantation

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