Investigation of serum trimethylamine-N-oxide levels in undescended testis cases

In this study, serum trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and insulin-like 3 factor (INSL3) levels were investigated in patients with undescended testes. Serum TMAO levels were measured using LC-MS/MS, while serum hCG and INSL3 levels were determined using the ELISA method. It was observed that serum INSL3 levels were significantly lower in patients with undescended testes compared to the control group (p=0,025). INSL3 is a hormone secreted by Leydig cells, playing a crucial role in testicular descent. The reduced INSL3 levels may indicate impaired Leydig cell function or a developmental defect. Additionally, elevated TMAO levels were found in patients with undescended testes (p<0,01), suggesting a potential role of metabolic disturbances and inflammation in the pathophysiology of the condition. This study presents an important step towards exploring the potential of INSL3 and TMAO as biomarkers for undescended testes. Future studies should further investigate the clinical potential of these biomarkers in diagnosis and treatment. Keywords: Undescended Testes, TMAO, hCG, INSL3