Gubernaculum

Function during development

Adult structures

Males

• The upper part of the gubernaculum degenerates.
• The lower part persists as the gubernaculum testis. This ligament secures the testis to the most inferior portion of the scrotum, tethering it in place and limiting the degree to which the testis can move within the scrotum.
• Cryptorchidism are observed in Insl3-null male mice. This implicates Insl3 as a key hormone in the growth and differentiation of the gubernaculum to allow transabdominal migration. Higher testicular temperatures associated with cryptorchidism is associated with reduced fertility.

  Females

• The gubernaculum has two vestigial remnants in females, the ovarian ligament and the round ligament of the uterus which respectively serve to support the ovaries and uterus in the pelvis.
• Development of the gubernaculum in female mice overexpressing Insl3 causes descended ovaries and reduced fertility. This ovarian descent is more pronounced by the additional administration of dihydrotestosterone, which suppresses development of the cranial suspensory ligament. Therefore, maintenance of the cranial suspensory ligament prevents abdominal translocation of the ovaries.