Spigelian hernia (SH) is a rare ventral interstitial hernia occurring through a defect in the transversus abdominis aponeurosis (Spigelian fascia). Spigelian fascia is found between the lateral border of the rectus abdominis muscle and the semilunar line, which extends from the costal cartilage to the pubic tubercle. In other words, Spigelian line is where the transversus abdominis muscle ends in an aponeurosis characterized by a congenital or acquired defect in the Spigelian aponeurosis. Pediatric cases of SH are either congenital or acquired due to trauma, previous surgery or increased intra-abdominal pressure. SH in combination with ipsilateral cryptorchidism may constitute a new syndrome, as such cases are extremely rare in the literature is new syndrome is characterized by the following congenital, ipsilateral disturbances: SH, absence of inguinal canal and gubernaculum and the homolateral testis found within the Spigelian hernia sac (a hernia sac containing undescended testis). The aim of this study is to emphasize some typical findings of this specific entity, and, hence, the necessity for a thorough investigation of the origin of the SH.

Objective To investigate the expressions of androgen receptors (AR) in testicular and gubernaculum tissues in mice.Methods RNA and protein expressions of AR in testicular and tissues were studied by immtmohistochemistry and RT-PCR.Results AR mRNA was expressed in gubernaculum tissues of neonatal mouse.After birth,the expressions of AR in testis declined at first and then increased.In the group GD (gestation day) 17,GD19,PD (postnatal day,PD) 0,PD3 and PD7,the expression of AR in testes,were 39.49 ± 2.92、33.69 ± 3.46、41.21 ± 2.57、46.47 ± 4.68、55.73 ± 5.55 respectively.At the same time,the expression of AR in gubernaculum increased before birth and then declined.In the group GD17,GD19,PD0,PD3 and PD7,the expression of AR in gubemaculum,respectively,were 40.40 ± 4.08、46.77 ± 6.42、48.71 ± 3.71、45.06 ± 7.02、41.40 ±7.09.Conclusions AR is expressed in both the testis and gubernaculum tissue in neonatal mice,and they show corresponding changes with the aging of newborn mouse. Key words: Testis; Gubernaculum; Receptors,androgen

Immunolocalization of INSL3 in dog foetal Leydig cells and the LGR8 receptor in the gubernaculum testis S. Arrighi & G. Bosi & D. Groppetti & M. Aralla & F. Cremonesi Published online: 8 July 2009 # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2009

To study the effect of diethylstilbestrol (DES) at different doses on transabdominal testicular descent in rats and the expression of INSL3 in the testis and HOXA10 in the gubernaculum. Fifty E13.5 (embryonic day 13.5) pregnant female SD rats were randomly divided into five groups that received a subcutaneous injection of DMSO, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 mg/kg DES (group A, B, C, D and E), respectively. Male offspring were killed at E19.5, and then fetal mortality, the degree of transabdominal testicular ascent (DTA) was determined by a stereomicroscope. The mRNA expressions of INSL3 in the testis and HOXA10 in the gubernaculum were determined by RT-PCR. The expression of INSL3 protein was determined by Western blotting. Male fetal mortality in group A, B, C, D, and E were 3.57%, 6.90%, 12.00%, 19.23% and 36.36%, respectively, which showed a dose-effect relationship between DES and the male fatal mortality (r=0.999, P<0.01). DTA in group B, C, D and E were (23.7+/-1.7) U, (38.8+/-1.9) U, (49.3+/-1.8) U and (58.6+/-2.1) U that were significantly larger than that in group A [(8.5+/-1.3) U] (q=46.12, 88.53, 120.44 and 141.37, respectively, P<0.01). There was also a dose-effect relationship between DES and DTA. In group B, C, D, and E, the expression of INSL3 mRNA were 0.9570+/-0.1490, 0.6760+/-0.1380, 0.0170+/-0.0040 and 0.0013+/-0.0003, respectively; the expressions of INSL3 protein were 0.8360+/-0.1520, 0.5310+/-0.1070, 0.0140+/-0.0020 and 0.0011+/-0.0003, respectively, which were significantly larger than the expression of INSL3 mRNA (1.801+/-0.126) and INSL3 protein (1.612+/-0.134) in group A (qmRNA=40.4840, 52.4402, 83.1585 and 82.0582, respectively, and qprotein=38.6151, 52.2747, 77.2756 and 76.1983, respectively, P<0.01). The expression of HOXA10 mRNA in group A, B, C, D, and E were 0.945+/-0.125, 0.940+/-0.119, 0.656+/-0.115, 0.544+/-0.118 and 0.463+/-0.114, respectively. Compared with the expression of HOXA10 mRNA in group A, the expression of group B was not significantly different (q=0.2213, P>0.05), those in other groups were down-regulated significantly (q=12.4304, 17.2477 and 20.2789, respectively, P<0.01). DES inhibited transabdominal testicular descent dose-dependently via down-regulating the expression of INSL3. HOXA10 may play no role in low-dosage DES induced intra-abdominal cryptorchidism, but down-regulated HOXA10 mRNA was involved in high-dosage DES induced ones.

Descent of the testes is a complex event mediated by hormonal and mechanical factors. At present we hypothesize that testicular descent occurs as the result of the secretion of descendin from a normal testicle. Descendin secretion results in selective growth of the gubernacular cells. Gubernacular outgrowth results in masculinization of the inguinal canal. At the beginning of testicular descent, the patent processus migrates into the inguinal canal, transmitting intraabdominal pressure to the gubernaculum. The gubernaculum in turn applies traction to the testicle to introduce the testicle into the inguinal canal. Descent of the testes into and through the inguinal canal is an interplay between intraabdominal pressure transmitted by a patent processus vaginalis and androgen-induced gubernacular regression. Specifically, we hypothesize that androgens under control of an intact fetal hypothalamic-pituitary axis alter the viscoelastic properties of the gubernaculum. Reductions in the turgidity of the gubernaculum allow intraabdominal pressure to push the testicle into the scrotum. Functional abnormalities in any of the above factors will result in cryptorchidism.

The anatomy of the female gubernaculum is different from the male : A.E. Attah and J.M. Hudson. Aust NZJ Surg 61:380–384, (May), 1991

ABSTRACTFrom the known species occurring in crocodilians, the genus Dujardinascaris is redefined and found to be a homogenous group of species, with dujardini Travassos, 1920 as the type species. The following new species are described and added to the genus: gedoelsti, puylaerti, waltoni, mawsonae and taylorae. The following species are excluded from the genus: vandenbrandeni, australiensis, tasmani, alata and antipini. The distribution of the species in Dujardinascaris is as follows: in African crocodiles—dujardini, madagascariensis, gedoelsti, and puylaerti; in South American caimans—longispicula, paulista, and chabaudi (possibly a synonym of paulista); in North American alligator–waltoni; in Crocodylus acutus—helicina; in the Indian gavial—woodlandi; in crocodiles in Papua New Guinea and Australia—mawsonae and taylorae.These species are differentiated mainly by the relative length of the spicules and the form of the guber naculum in the males and by the relative length of the vagina and the form of the vulva in the females.