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Human Reproduction, Vol. 17, No. 7, 1837-1838, July 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Correlation of scrotal temperature in twins: Brief Communication

Niels Henrik I. Hjollund1,5, Lone Storgaard1, Erik Ernst2, Jens Peter E. Bonde1, Kaare Christensen3 and Jørn Olsen4

1 Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, 2 Reproductive Toxicology Unit, Institute of Neurobiology, Aarhus University, 3 Epidemiology Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark and 4 Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Aarhus University, Denmark

BACKGROUND: Scrotal temperature and semen quality have been found to be inversely correlated in several studies, and variation in scrotal temperature may contribute to the well known variation in semen quality. The reason for the variation in scrotal temperature is not well understood although determinants could be of a genetic nature. METHODS: We monitored scrotal skin temperature for 24 h in a group of monozygotic and dizygotic twins and single-born brothers (n = 48 males). A thermistor was attached to the underwear and the temperature of the scrotal skin was recorded every 5 min using a small portable data logger. RESULTS: A correlation in median scrotal temperature was found among monozygotic twins (r = 0.64, P = 0.01), but not in dizygotic twins and single-born brothers (r = 0.17, NS). Similar results were found for other percentiles of temperature. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a genetic component to the variation in scrotal temperature. An hereditary element in male fecundity may be expressed through scrotal temperature, which constitutes a mechanism independent of those responsible for the development of the sperm producing epithelium.

Key words: heredity/semen quality/temperature/twins/varicocele

5 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Noerrebrogade 44, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. E-mail: hhjol{at}akh.aaa.dk


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