Could miRNAs be Used as Markers for Distinguishing Undescended Testicles From Retractile Testicles (miRNA)

December 23, 2025 updated by: Dr. Mevlüt Keleş

miRNAs Associated With Undescended and Retractile Testes

Background: Undescended testicles (UDTs) are common in male infants. Untreated UDT poses risks such as infertility (IF), testicular cancer (TC), and testicular torsion (TT). Retractile testicles (RTs) sporadically ascend from the scrotum. UDT requires early surgical correction, whereas RT requires only periodic follow-up. Differentiating these conditions is challenging, making clinical biomarkers potentially useful. The aim of our study was to examine the use of miRNAs, which are difficult to differentiate, as biomarkers in the differential diagnosis of UDT and RT.

Methods: This prospective study included 10 boys with UDT (operated), 9 with RT (followed), and 9 controls. Parent consent and serum samples were collected to evaluate miR-210, miR-34c, and miR-449a expression via real-time PCR. For group comparisons, one-way ANOVA was used for parametric data, and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used for nonparametric data, followed by the Dunn-Bonferroni correction for post hoc multiple comparisons. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to analyse correlations. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

  1. Introduction Undescended testicles (UDTs) are the most common congenital male malformation, affecting 1.0-4.6% of term infants and up to 45% of preterm infants [1]. UDT can be congenital or acquired; spontaneous descent in congenital cases is rare after six months [2]. Untreated UDT beyond one year of age leads to interstitial fibrosis, degenerated spermatogenesis, and increased infertility risk [3-5]. Furthermore, untreated UDTs carry risks of testicular cancer (TC) and enhanced testicular torsion (TT). Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent these complications.

    Differentiating true underscended testicles (UDTs) from retractile testicles (RTs) is clinically challenging. True UDT involves a consistently empty scrotum, with testicles never descending. Conversely, RTs can spontaneously descend or be manually reduced, although they may reascend. Treatment for RT depends on the time spent outside the scrotum. Misdiagnosing UDT as RT risks delayed treatment and inevitable complications. Thus, reliable indicators for distinguishing UDTs and RT are crucial.

    MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are ~22-nucleotide noncoding RNAs that posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression [6]. MiRNAs are known to regulate spermatogenesis (SP), early embryonic development, sperm function, and fertilization in various species [7]. Given the expected SP disruption in true UDTs, the UDT-miRNA relationship has been explored. Studies have shown altered miRNA levels in UDT: miR-210 is upregulated [8], whereas miR-449a and miR-34c are downregulated [9-11]. Critically, data on miRNA changes in retractile testicle (RT) cases are currently lacking. Theoretically, the SP is not expected to be disrupted at RT. Thus, miRNA alterations, reflecting SP status, could differentiate RT from UDT, guiding surgical versus follow-up decisions. This study compared miRNA changes across UDT, RT, and normal control groups prospectively.

  2. Materials and methods 2.1. Sample size This study is designed as a prospective controlled trial to compare miRNA changes across UDT, RT, and normal control groups. The sample size was determined via G*Power 3.1.9.6. A one-way ANOVA power analysis for miR-34c, which compared three groups, utilized an effect size (f=1.2955357) from a previous study [10]. To achieve 99% power and a 1% error rate, a total sample size of 24 was needed. To increase confidence, the study ultimately enrolled 30 patients, who were divided into three groups of 10.

2.2. Patient population Initially, 10 boys with undescended testicles (UDTs), 10 with retractile testicles (RTs), and 10 healthy volunteers (controls) from our urology clinic (dates between March 2022 and March 2023) were enrolled. However, one RT patient and one control patient were excluded because of parental refusal for blood sampling. Only palpable (unilateral or bilateral) UDT cases were included, excluding nonpalpable types. To ensure accurate RT diagnosis, initial physician examinations were performed in three positions (supine, semisupine, standing), followed by a 1-month parental examination (twice daily). Only RT patients whose testicles spent >50% of their time in the scrotum were included. The exclusion criteria also included prior inguinal/scrotal surgery, defective datasets, or unsuitable serum samples.

2.3. Collection of patient data and control samples Detailed patient histories, physical examinations, and routine biochemical tests were performed. UDT blood samples were collected presurgery to prevent misinterpretation. Blood from all the groups was collected in 5 mL biochemistry tubes and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes. The resulting particle-free serum was transferred to 1.5 mL tubes and stored at -80°C until analysis.

2.4. Validation of the expression levels of miR-210, miR-449a and miR-34c via real-time PCR Serum samples from the urology clinic were subjected to RNA isolation via the Quick-cfRNA™ Serum & Plasma Kit (Zymo Research). The extracted miRNA was reverse transcribed into cDNA via the miRNA All-In-One cDNA Synthesis Kit (ABMGood). cDNA quality and quantity were assessed spectrophotometrically with a BioSpec-nano instrument (Shimadzu) before real-time PCR. miRNA expression analysis was performed via a Rotor Gene Q (Qiagen) instrument. The levels of miR-210, miR-449a, and miR-34c were quantified with ready-to-use primers and BlasTaq™ 2X qPCR MasterMix (ABMGood).

2.5. Statistical analysis Data normality was assessed via the Shapiro-Wilk test, and variance equality was assessed via Levene's test. Descriptive statistics are presented as the means ± SDs for parametric data and medians (IQRs) and means (ranks) for nonparametric data. For group comparisons, one-way ANOVA was used for parametric data, and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used for nonparametric data, followed by the Dunn-Bonferroni correction for post hoc multiple comparisons. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to analyse correlations. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

miRNA expression was quantified via qRT-PCR via Ct (crossing point) values and normalized to RNU6B_13. Relative miRNA expression levels were compared among all groups via the 2-ΔCt method and calculated as 2Ct (target gene) - Ct (reference gene). All the statistical analyses were performed via IBM SPSS v28 (IBM Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

28

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Altınordu
      • Ordu, Altınordu, Turkey (Türkiye), 52200
        • Ordu University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Control group: Healthy kids with both testes in scrotum. Undescended testis group: Kids with unilateral palpable undescended testis or bilateral palpable testes.

Recractile testis group: Kids under monitorisation for unilateral retractile testis or bilateral retractile testes.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Palpable (unilateral or bilateral) undescended testis cases
  • Retractile testis cases; physician examinations were performed in three positions (supine, semisupine, standing), followed by a 1-month parental examination (twice daily).
  • Healty kids less than 18 years old with palpable two testes palpable in scrotum.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior inguinal/scrotal surgery
  • Defective datasets
  • Unsuitable serum samples

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Undescended Testicle
Undescended testicle cases whose miRNA levels investigated
Diagnostic test: miRNA
miR-34c , miR-210 , miR-449a levels investigated.
Retractile testicle
Retractile testicle cases whose miRNA levels investigated
Diagnostic test: miRNA
miR-34c , miR-210 , miR-449a levels investigated.
Control
Healthy kids with testes in the scrotum whose miRNA levels investigated
Diagnostic test: miRNA
miR-34c , miR-210 , miR-449a levels investigated.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
miRNA levels
Time Frame: Within study enrollement
2Ct (target gene) - Ct (reference gene)
Within study enrollement
miRNA changes
Time Frame: Rapid miRNA levels at study enrollement time.
Differentiation of miRNA levels in three arms
Rapid miRNA levels at study enrollement time.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Dr. Mevlüt Keleş

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Benli, Ordu University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 31, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

April 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 23, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 23, 2025

First Posted (Estimated)

January 2, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

January 2, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 23, 2025

Last Verified

December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2022/25
  • A-2109 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Ordu University Scientific Project Unit)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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