Cryptorchidism is associated with infertility in adulthood. Early orchiopexy is suggested to
reduce the risk. Information is lacking on the potential link between infant germ cell
maturation and the risk of future infertility. The objective of the study was to evaluate age-
related germ cell development in cryptorchidism. Immunostaining for markers of germ cell
development (octamer-binding transcription factor 3/4 [OCT3/4], placental alkaline
phosphatase [PLAP], KIT proto-oncogene [C-KIT], podoplanin [D2-40], Lin-28 homolog A …