Female Uterus Research Articles

Blastocyst transfer in mice alters the placental transcriptome and growth.

Assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs) are becoming increasingly common. Therefore, how these procedures influence gene regulation and foeto-placental development are important to explore. Here, we assess the effects of blastocyst transfer on mouse placental growth and transcriptome. C57Bl/6 blastocysts were transferred into uteri of B6D2F1 pseudopregnant females and dissected at embryonic day 10.5 for analysis. Compared to non-transferred controls, placentas from transferred conceptuses weighed less even though the embryos were larger on average. This suggested a compensatory increase in placental efficiency. RNA sequencing of whole male placentas revealed 543 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after blastocyst transfer: 188 and 355 genes were downregulated and upregulated, respectively. DEGs were independently validated in male and female placentas. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that DEGs represented expression in all major placental cell types and included genes that are critical for placenta development and/or function. Furthermore, the direction of transcriptional change in response to blastocyst transfer implied an adaptive response to improve placental function to maintain foetal growth. Our analysis revealed that CpG methylation at regulatory regions of two DEGs was unchanged in female transferred placentas and that DEGs had fewer gene-associated CpG islands (within ~20 kb region) compared to the larger genome. These data suggested that altered methylation at proximal promoter regions might not lead to transcriptional disruption in transferred placentas. Genomic clustering of some DEGs warrants further investigation of long-range, cis-acting epigenetic mechanisms including histone modifications together with DNA methylation. We conclude that embryo transfer, a protocol required for ART, significantly impacts the placental transcriptome and growth.

Cancer patterns and association with mortality and renal outcomes in non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease: a matched cohort study

BackgroundCancer in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an added burden to their overall morbidity and mortality. Cancer can be a cause or an effect of CKD. In CKD patients, a better understanding of cancer distribution and associations can aid in the proper planning of renal replacement therapy (RRT) and in the choice of chemotherapeutic agents, many of which are precluded in more advanced CKD. This study aims to investigate the distribution and the association of cancer with mortality, renal progression and RRT assignment in a non-dialysis dependent CKD cohort, few studies have investigated this in the past.MethodsThe study was carried out on 2952 patients registered in the Salford Kidney Study (SKS) between October 2002 and December 2016. A comparative analysis was performed between 339 patients with a history of cancer (previous and current) and 2613 patients without cancer at recruitment. A propensity score matched cohort of 337 patients was derived from each group and used for analysis. Cox-regression models and Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to compare the association of cancer with mortality and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) outcomes. Linear regression analysis was applied to generate the annual rate of decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (delta eGFR).ResultsOf our cohort, 13.3% had a history of cancer at recruitment and the annual rate of de novo cancers in the non-cancer patients was 1.6%. Urogenital cancers including kidney and bladder, and prostate and testicle in males, ovary and uterus in females, were the most prevalent cancers (46%), as expected from the anatomical or physiological roles of these organs and relationship to nephrology. Over a median follow-up of 48 months, 1084 (36.7%) of patients died. All-cause mortality was higher in the previous and current cancer group (49.6% vs 35%, p < 0.001), primarily because of cancer-specific mortality. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed a strong association of cancer with all-cause mortality (HR:1.41; 95%CI: 1.12–1.78; p = 0.004). There was no difference between the groups regarding reaching end-stage renal disease (26% in both groups) or the rate of decline in eGFR (− 0.97 for cancer vs − 0.93 mL/min/year for non-cancer, p = 0.93). RRT uptake was similar between the groups (17.2% vs 19.3%, p = 0.49).ConclusionsCancer status proved to be an added burden and an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality but not for renal progression. CKD patients with a previous or current history of cancer should be assessed on a case by case basis in planning for renal replacement therapy options, and the presence of cancer should not be a limitation for RRT provision including transplantation.

Attempts to obtain fully xenogeneic fetuses in rat ↔ mouse model†,‡

The full-term development of the xenogeneic embryo in the uterus of the mother of different species is very restricted and can occur only in certain groups of closely related mammals. In the case of mouse ↔ rat chimeras, the interspecific uterine barrier is less hostile to interspecific chimeric fetuses. In current work, we tested the development of mouse and rat fetuses in uteri of females of the opposite species. We created chimeric mouse ↔ rat blastocysts by injection of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into eight-cell rat embryos and rat ESCs into eight-cell mouse embryos. Chimeras were transferred to the foster mothers of the opposite species. Despite a huge number of transferred embryos (>1000 in total for both variants), only one live fetus derived solely from the mouse ESCs was isolated at E13.5 from the rat uterus. All other fetuses and newborns were chimeric or were built only from the cells of the recipient embryo. We examined the possible reason for such an outcome and found that the xenogeneic fetuses are eliminated at the perigastrulation stage of development. Thus, we conclude that in the rat ↔ mouse combination even when extraembryonic tissues of the chimeric embryo are composed solely of the cells of the same species as the female to which embryos are transferred, the full-term development of the pure xenogeneic fetus is very unlikely.

The trypanosome journey in the tsetse fly

The trypanosome journey in the tsetse fly

Endometrial recognition of pregnancy occurs in the grey short-tailed opossum ( Monodelphis domestica).

In human pregnancy, recognition of an embryo within the uterus is essential to support the fetus through gestation. In most marsupials, such as the opossums, pregnancy is shorter than the oestrous cycle and the steroid hormone profile during pregnancy and oestrous cycle are indistinguishable. For these reasons, it was assumed that recognition of pregnancy, as a trait, evolved in the eutherian (placental) stem lineage and independently in wallabies and kangaroos. To investigate whether uterine recognition of pregnancy occurs in species with pregnancy shorter than the oestrous cycle, we examined reproduction in the short-tailed opossum ( Monodelphis domestica), a marsupial with a plesiomorphic mode of pregnancy. We examined the morphological and gene expression changes in the uterus of females in the non-pregnant oestrous cycle and compared these to pregnancy. We found that the presence of an embryo did not alter some aspects of uterine development but increased glandular activity. Transcriptionally, we saw big differences between the uterus of pregnant and cycling animals. These differences included an upregulation of genes involved in transport, inflammation and metabolic-activity in response to the presence of a fetus. Furthermore, transcriptional differences reflected protein level differences in transporter abundance. Our results suggest that while the uterus exhibits programmed changes after ovulation, its transcriptional landscape during pregnancy responds to the presence of a fetus and upregulates genes that may be essential for fetal support. These results are consistent with endometrial recognition of pregnancy occurring in the opossum. While the effects on maternal physiology appear to differ, recognition of pregnancy has now been observed in eutherian mammals, as well as, Australian and American marsupials.

LUNG CARCINOMA METASTASIS TO THE MAXILLA AFTER RECURRENT IMPLANTS FAILURE

Metastatic tumours involving the oro-facial tissues are infrequent, with an incidence ranging between 1-8% of oral malignant tumours. The peak incidence is in the 5-7th decades and they can be the first sign of an occult cancer or manifest during the follow-up of a patient with a known primary tumour. We describe a case of metastasis from unknown lung adenocarcinoma occurring in the maxilla, around dental implants, causing recurrent implants failure. A 62 year-old male without relevant clinical history was referred for dental implant failure in the left maxilla. New dental implants were positioned in the same maxillary area, but an additional implant failure occurred one month later; implants removal with an accurate bone curettage was performed and the surgical sample sent for histological examination. Unexpectedly, small foci of adenocarcinoma were found, with spiculae of medullary bone, prominent inflammatory changes and bacterial deposits. At immunohistochemistry, the tumour positively stained for CK7+ and TTF1+ but not for CK20 and PSA. Additional clinico-radiological investigations revealed a primary tumour of the lung, subsequently characterized as acinar adenocarcinoma. Metastases to the oro-facial tissues can involve the oral mucosa, jawbones and salivary glands; lung, kidney, prostate and colon-rectum in males, uterus, breast, ovary and lungs in females are the most frequent primary localisations. It is accepted that metastatic neoplasms in the oro-facial region show high predilection for sites with peculiar clinical conditions, such as the parodontal inflammation or edentulous individuals bearing prosthesis. The molar and premolar regions of the jawbones and the post-extraction sites frequently are involved; this was related to the rich vascularisation and high bone marrow content and /or to re-organisation of the blood cloth of such sites. This report highlights the importance of histological examination of gingival-parodontal inflamed tissues when plaque and calculus accumulations have been excluded as primary causes.

Association between tea consumption and risk of cancer: a prospective cohort study of 0.5 million Chinese adults

Current experimental and epidemiological studies provide inconsistent evidence toward the association between tea consumption and cancer incidence. We investigated whether tea consumption was associated with the incidence of all cancers and six leading types of cancer (lung cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, female breast cancer and cervix uteri cancer) among 455,981 participants aged 30–79 years in the prospective cohort China Kadoorie Biobank. Tea consumption was assessed at baseline (2004–2008) with an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Cancer cases were identified by linkage to the national health insurance system. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). In the present population, daily tea consumers were more likely to be current smokers and daily alcohol consumers. 22,652 incident cancers occurred during 10.1 years follow-up (5.04 cases/1000 person-years). When we restricted analyses to non-smokers and non-excessive alcohol consumers to minimize confounding, tea consumption was not associated with all cancers (daily consumers who added tea leaves > 4.0 g/day vs. less-than-weekly consumers: HR, 1.03; 95%CI, 0.93–1.13), lung cancer (HR, 1.08; CI, 0.84–1.40), colorectal cancer (HR, 1.08; CI, 0.81–1.45) and liver cancer (HR, 1.08; CI, 0.75–1.55), yet might be associated with increased risk of stomach cancer (HR, 1.46; CI, 1.07–1.99). In both less-than-daily and daily tea consumers, all cancer risk increased with the amount of tobacco smoked or alcohol consumed. Our findings suggest tea consumption may not provide preventive effect against cancer incidence.

Role of Seminal Plasma Proteins in Effective Zygote Formation- A Success Road to Pregnancy.

Seminal plasma proteins contributed by secretions of accessory glands plays a copious role in fertilization. Their role is overlooked for decades and even now, as Artificial Reproduction Techniques (ART) excludes the plasma components in the procedures. Recent evidences suggest the importance of these proteins starting from imparting fertility status to men, fertilization and till successful implantation of the conceptus in the female uterus. Seminal plasma is rich in diverse proteins, but a major part of the seminal plasma is constituted by very lesser number of proteins. This makes isolation and further research on non abundant protein a tough task. With the advent of much advanced proteomic techniques and bio informatics tools, studying the protein component of seminal plasma has become easy and promising. This review is focused on the role of seminal plasma proteins on various walks of fertilization process and thus, the possible exploitation of seminal plasma proteins for understanding the etiology of male related infertility issues. In addition, a compilation of seminal plasma proteins and their functions has been done.

The effect of light exposure on the cleavage rate and implantation capacity of preimplantation murine embryos

During assisted reproduction the embryos are subjected to light. We investigated the relationship between light exposure and the developmental- and implantation capacity of mouse embryos. In vitro cultured embryos were exposed to white or red filtered light, then transferred to the uteri of pseudo-pregnant females. The mice were sacrificed on day 8.5 and implantation sites were counted. The number of nucleic acid containing (PI+) extracellular vesicles (EVs) in culture media of light-exposed and control embryos, as well as, the effect of the EVs on IL-10 production of CD8+ spleen cells was determined by flow cytometry. DNA fragmentation in control and light exposed embryos was detected in a TUNEL assay. The effect of light on the expression of apoptosis-related molecules was assessed in an apoptosis array.Light exposure significantly reduced the implantation capacity of the embryos. The harmful effect was related to the wavelength, rather than to the brightness of the light. Culture media of light exposed groups contained significantly higher number of PI + EVs than those of the control embryos, and failed to induce IL-10 production of spleen cells. The number of nuclei with fragmented DNA, was significantly higher in embryos treated with white light, than in the other two groups.In conclusion exposure to white light impairs the implantation potential of in vitro cultured mouse embryos. These effects are partly corrected by using a red filter. Since there is no information on the light sensitivity of human embryos, embryo manipulation during IVF and ICSI should be performed with caution.

Clinical-diagnostic criteria and peculiarities of treatment of urocystitis in cats

The results of a study of cats with signs of urocystitis are presented. The general principles of diagnostics based on clinical, laboratory and additional research methods are established. Clinically acute urocystitis was manifested by disorders of urination – pollakiuria, dysuria, stranguria. Some of the animals showed an increase in body temperature, pain in the bladder and tightness of the walls of the abdominal cavity. According to the results of urine study, it was observed that 43.7% of the cats with urocystitis showed an increase in relative density of the urine, a change in urine pH towards higher alkaline levels, urine residue – erythrocytes, leukocytes and microorganisms were indicated. Impurities of salt and sand were found in 58.4% of the cats. In 31.4% of the cats, urocystitis was a complication of urolithiasis. Early diagnosis, especially differential diagnosis of acute and chronic, secondary urocystitis presents difficulties. Therefore, in cases of suspected inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract, a complex examination using ultrasound of the kidneys, bladder, prostate gland (in males) and the uterus (in females) is recommended.With therapeutic purpose, sick cats (two groups of 8 animals/group) were administered: anti-microbial agent (5% solution of Enrofloxacin), spasmolytic medicinal agent – Riabal®. Animals of the second group were additionally administered the drug Cystocure (Candioli Farmaceutici). According to the instructions, the plant basis of the powder Cystocure is presented by extracts of cranberries and orange peels. These substances provide the main properties of the drug – help in resisting the bacterial colonization of the lower urinary tract and change in urine pH to the acid side. The applied therapy positively influenced the clinical condition of the cats. Their general health was improved, painful sensations during the act of urination disappeared, the quantity and frequency of diuresis normalized. On the seventh day of treatment, according to the results of the study, the urine became transparent, no microorganisms were detected. In cats of the second group, which additionally used the drug Cystocure, the amount of salts and sand decreased significantly, the pH of the urine did not exceed the recommended value of 6.4, in contrast to animals of the first group.

An advanced protocol for the purification of whipworm eggs from feces for use as therapeutic agents

Recent studies have attempted to treat autoimmune diseases using Trichuris suis. whipworm) eggs. Large quantities of eggs can be obtained efficiently by collecting from the feces of the porcine hosts rather than by extracting from the female worm uterus. However, it is difficult to process large amounts of feces using the current methods. In the present study, we propose a method to collect the eggs from bulk feces more efficiently. Collecting the eggs using washing meshes (25 μm sieve) yields 65.7% (56.0–70.7) of eggs (median, min-max) from 100 g feces. Our method, which uses ethyl acetate and simulated gastric fluid, yielded 91.4% (91.4–94.0) of the eggs from 100 g feces into the separated aqueous solution. Egg collection using simulated gastric fluid (SGF) method was also 60 min faster than that using the sieve method. As the SGF used in the experiment is a strongly acidic reagent with a pH of 1–2, embryonation of the eggs was induced by the rapid pH change. As a result, 37.1% (8.0–77.8) of the eggs had embryonated two months after SGF stimulation. Using the developed method, we could process the feces quickly and efficiently. Furthermore, after purification, egg embryonation could be induced without any harmful reagent treatment. This method is expected to be helpful for further research using Trichuris suis eggs.

Transplacental delivery of genome editing components causes mutations in embryonic cardiomyocytes of mid-gestational murine fetuses.

Genome editing, as exemplified by CRISPR/Cas9, is now recognized as a powerful tool for the engineering of endogenous target genes. It employs only two components, namely, Cas9 in the form of DNA, mRNA, or protein; and guide RNA (gRNA), which is specific to a target gene. When these components are transferred to cells, they create insertion/deletion mutations (indels) within a target gene. Therefore, when fetuses within the uteri of pregnant murine females are exposed to these reagents, fetal cells incorporating them should show mutations in the target gene. To examine a possible genome editing of fetal cells in vivo, we intravenously administered a solution containing plasmid DNA-FuGENE complex to pregnant wild-type female mice [which had been successfully mated with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-expressing male transgenic mice] on day 12.5 of gestation. The plasmid DNA induces the expression of gRNA, which was targeted at the EGFP cDNA, and that of the Cas9 gene. All fetuses in the pregnant females should express EGFP systemically, since they are heterozygous (Tg/+) for the transgene. Thus, the delivery of CRISPR system targeted at EGFP in the fetuses will cause a reduced expression of EGFP as a result of the genome editing of EGFP genomic sequence. Of the 24 fetuses isolated from three pregnant females 2 days after gene delivery, 3 were found to have reduced fluorescence in their hearts. Genotyping of the dissected hearts revealed the presence of the transgene construct (Cas9 gene) in all the samples. Furthermore, all the three samples exhibited mutations at the target loci, although normal cells were also present. Thus, transplacental delivery of gene editing components may be a useful tool for developing animal models with heart disorder for heart-related disease research, and gene therapy in congenital heart defects such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). © 2019 IUBMB Life, 9999(9999):1-10, 2019.

Monkeys, mice and menses: the bloody anomaly of the spiny mouse.

The common spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) is the only known rodent to demonstrate a myriad of physiological processes unseen in their murid relatives. The most recently discovered of these uncharacteristic traits: spontaneous decidual transformation of the uterus in virgin females, preceding menstruation. Menstruation occurring without experimental intervention in rodents has not been documented elsewhere to date, and natural menstruation is indeed rare in the animal kingdom outside of higher order primates. This review briefly summarises the current knowledge of spiny mouse biology and taxonomy, and explores their endocrinology which may aid in our understanding of the evolution of menstruation in this species. We propose that DHEA, synthesised by the spiny mouse (but not other rodents), humans and other menstruating primates, is integral in spontaneous decidualisation and therefore menstruation. We discuss both physiological and behavioural attributes across the menstrual cycle in the spiny mouse analogous to those observed in other menstruating species, including premenstrual syndrome. We further encourage the use of the spiny mouse as a small animal model of menstruation and female reproductive biology.

Uterus-containing inguinal hernia caused by undue tension on round ligament

The presence of uterus in inguinal hernia sac is a rare condition, the cause for this disease has not been clarified, and the contributions to this condition could be multiple. In this report, we described a case of a 78-year-old multiparous female with left recurrent inguinal hernia, during the transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP); the well-formed uterus was found in the hernia sac, and the uterus could only be completely reduced after the division of the left round ligament. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports in the literature on adult recurrent hernias containing well-formed uterus in adult females. The aim of this case report is to call attention to the proper management of round ligament when performing inguinal hernia repair in female patients.

Taxonomy of the genus Labronema Thorne, 1939 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Dorylaimidae) with redescription of its type species, L. ferox Thorne, 1939

Summary Labronema ferox is redescribed on the basis of two females and four males from the USA. It is characterised by its 2.90-4.45 mm long body, lip region offset by deep constriction, 31-39 μm broad and slightly sucker-like with distinctly protruding perioral liplets, odontostyle 34-37 μm long with aperture occupying 37-42% its length, neck 673-883 μm long, pharyngeal expansion occupying 48-52% of total neck length, female genital system didelphic-amphidelphic, uterus long and complex, including an intermediate pars musculosa, vulva longitudinal (V = 51-54), caudal region short and rounded (27-39 μm, c = 93-135, ), spicules 76-89 μm long, and 20-25 nearly contiguous ventromedian supplements with an hiatus. Previous information about the species is analysed and discussed in the light of the present redescription. A new name, Labronemella zullinii sp. n., is proposed for the two females from Nepal described by Zullini in 1973. This new characterisation of L. ferox lays the foundations to study the taxonomy of the genus in more detail.

144 Sex ratio of in vitro-produced goat embryos

Goats are important livestock species because they produce meat, milk, and fibre and are also easily maintainable on small farms. Although goats provide many products and consumption of goat meat is increasing in the United States, the industry lags compared with many species with regard to IVF techniques to enhance goat production. It has been demonstrated in other species that male IVF embryos tend to develop faster than those of females. This may be due to increased tolerance of male embryos to inadequate conditions, particularly, glucose concentrations in culture media. However, the sex ratio of goat embryos produced utilising IVF remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the sex ratio of goat embryos utilising a commercially available media suite (IVF Biosciences, Falmouth, UK). Oocytes were harvested from ovaries obtained from 2 local abattoirs and matured in vitro. Frozen sperm from 1 of 2 billy goats were randomly assigned for each round of IVF. Embryos were evaluated daily from Days (D) 6 through 9 of in vitro culture. On the day an embryo reached the expanded blastocyst stage, it was removed from culture and placed into DNA extraction buffer (PicoPureTM DNA Extraction Kit, Applied Biosystems, Waltham, MA, USA) and stored at −20 for PCR analysis, typically within one month of collection. In all unknown samples, positive male (sperm) and female (uterus) controls, the amelogenin gene was amplified and products were evaluated on a 1.5% agarose gel with ethidium bromide. Embryos with 2 bands (202 and 262bp) were classified as male, and those with 1 band (262bp) were classified as female. Embryos with no bands were not included in analysis. Embryos reached the expanded blastocyst stage on D6 (n=29), D7 (n=39), and D8/9 (n=35, combined for evaluation). A chi-squared analysis comparing the percentage of male and female embryos to the expected 50% was completed for each time point (D6, D7, D8/9), as well as overall ratios (D6-9). In total, 350 oocytes were utilised in 6 rounds of IVF resulting in a mean blastocyst rate of 32% (range 17-47%). There was no significant difference in the number of embryos that were male on D6 (55%) and D7 (46%). However, on D8/9 significantly fewer embryos were male (29% male; P=0.01). Overall, there was no significant difference (P=0.14) in the sex ratio, with 41% male and 59% female embryos. Our findings are somewhat consistent with other species, in that male goat embryos produced via IVF develop more quickly in culture conditions; however, female embryos were still able to tolerate culture conditions. Delayed blastocyst development may not necessarily be an indication of a reduced quality embryo but one that is slower to develop based on its sex. This could be due to expression of X-linked genes being unbalanced during pre-implantation embryo development stages and warrants further study. One influencer of sex ratio we are currently investigating is the impact of glucose during culture, to further understand metabolism in IVF embryos.

The Holy Grail and the Female Uterus [Retrospectroscope

A graph presents a comparison of a chalice to the female uterus. To start, observe the clear resemblance of both to an inverted pyramid shape. Let us now review the role of women in the ancient Jewish-Christian tradition. The Old Testament (OT), the first part of the Christian Bible, is based primarily on the Hebrew scriptures (or Tanakh). The New Testament collects later writings. In the OT, the book of Esther relates the story of a Hebrew woman in Persia who thwarted a genocide of her people, while the book of Ruth tells of a woman who married into an Israelite family and converted to Judaism. Ruth is the great-grandmother of King David and, hence, an ancestor of the Messiah.

Patterns of Sperm Transfer Behavior in a Pholcid Spider with Two Distinct Copulatory Phases

Sexual selection is the responsible force for the evolution and maintenance of genital diversity and function. This is the case for example, of genital movements performed by males during mating and copulation duration. Spiders perform ritualized copulations whereby males carry out different types of movements using their pedipalps with varying duration. The function and duration of these pedipalp movements is unclear. In the pholcid spider, Holocnemus pluchei males that copulate with virgin females perform two copulatory phases: phase I in which the pedipalps move and phase II in which pedipalps remain motionless. Using H. pluchei as a study species, our study aims were: 1) to assess if sperm transfer occurs when pedipalps move or are still and quantify the number of sperm in male bulbs and in the female uterus externus after copulation; and, 2) to determine if amount of sperm transferred to females is associated with duration of each copulatory phase. Two experimental groups (i. e. complete copulation and interrupted copulation) were established in which the amount of sperm remaining in the male bulbs and the amount of sperm stored by females were determined. Our results show that sperm transfer occurs during phase I, that males transfer almost all sperm from their bulbs while the females store only 20% of that male amount. There was no relation between the amount of sperm transferred or stored and the duration of the copulatory phases. These results support the hypothesis that while both phases may serve a copulatory courtship, only phase I (when pedipalps move) serves for sperm transfer.

A preliminary study of fatty acid synthase gene and the risk of uterine leiomyoma in an Afro-Caribbean female population

IntroductionUterine leiomyoma (UL) are the most common tumours of the female uterus. They are responsible for gross morbidity and disproportionately affect black women. Evidence suggests that UL development is facilitated by genetic and hormonal stimuli as well as lifestyle, including obesity. One such genetic factor (SNP rs4247357) which was previously implicated in the predisposition of UL in Caucasians is investigated in this study, in a native Afro-Caribbean population. MethodsThe rs4247357 SNP was genotyped by performing polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in a case-control study comprised of 36 cases and 57 controls. ResultsGenotypic frequencies for CC, AC and AA genotypes were 25%, 50% and 25% respectively in the cases and 25%, 56% and 19% respectively, in the controls. The SNP was not found to be associated with UL risk (P > .05). However, among obese women in this population the risk of UL is increased with rs4247357. ConclusionsThis is the first measure of rs4247357 in a Caribbean population and coincides with a recent study in African- American women where no association was also found.

Macroscopic whole-mounts of the developing human fetal urogenital-genital tract: Indifferent stage to male and female differentiation

We present a detailed review of fetal development of the male and female human urogenital tract from 8 to 22 weeks gestation at the macroscopic and morphometric levels. Human fetal specimens were sexed based on macroscopic identification of fetal testes or ovaries, Wolffian or Müllerian structures and the presence of the SRY gene in the specimens at or near the indifferent stage (8–9 weeks). Specimens were photographed using a dissecting microscope with transmitted and reflected light. Morphometric measurements were taken of each urogenital organ.During this time period, development of the male and female urogenital tracts proceeded from the indifferent stage to differentiated organs. The kidneys, ureters, and bladder developed identically, irrespective of sex with the same physical dimensions and morphologic appearance. The penis, prostate and testis developed in males and the clitoris, uterus and ovary in females. Androgen-dependent growth certainly influenced size and morphology of the penile urethra and prostate, however, androgen-independent growth also accounted for substantial growth in the fetal urogenital tract including the clitoris.