ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology

Endocrine Reviews, Volume 40, Issue 4, August 2019, Pages 857–905

doi: 10.1210/er.2018-00140. PMID: 30590466

This encyclopedic article reviews the molecular and organizational events that take place during testicular development from the very early start, i.e. the development of the primordial germ cells before gastrulation and of the gonadal ridges at 3–4 weeks post fertilization. This is followed by a step-by step description of progressive testis formation and testicular descent. Lastly, the authors review the genes and mechanisms that when disturbed may give rise to incomplete or atypical gonadal development.

The amount of detail is astonishing, and yet, the authors manage to summarize the data in an agreeably-reading narrative style. Additional focus is placed on highlighting the differences between human and mice data wherever relevant. Many of the figures are conceived as simple and clear drawings, depicting individual cell types or embryonic tissues.

This review is of interest for everyone who is involved in research on gonadal development or who needs detailed and specific information about one or more aspects of testicular development.