A case report on penile duplication: A rare congenital anomaly

Introduction: Penile duplication or penile diphallia is a rare congenital anomaly that is mainly associated with renal, anorectal or vertebral anomalies, that is, spina bifida. This condition was first described by Johannes Jacob Wecker in 1609 in Italy. Problem: Its incidence is extremely rare, about one in millions. The aetiology of this condition is unknown up till now; however, it is considered that defect of genital tubercle leads to the formation of diphallia. Methods: The condition is diagnosed clinically, and management depends on the appearance of genitalia and the associated anomalies as well as after taking into account the social and ethical considerations. Most of the time, management involves surgical incision of the non-functioning penis. Results: In this case report, a child of age 10 years presented with double penis since childhood. The child was evaluated clinically and radiologically for any other associated abnormalities, and his non-functional urethra was surgically removed. Level of evidence: Level IV

Early determination of fetal sex in goat a comparison between real time PCR and ultrasonography

The point of the current study is to assess the productivity of the real time PCR and ultrasound techniques in early determination of fetal sex in Iraqi singleton pregnant goats. Our investigation has been led in Iraq, Al-Diwanya city from 10/8/2020 – 15/1/2021. The examination incorporates 45 singleton pregnant Iraqi goats, which initially inspected by ultrasound to affirm pregnancy and to decide the fetal sex depending on the restriction of the genital tubercle of the goat fetuses, after that, blood specimens had been gathered from the jugular vein of all examined does to detect fetal sex by discovery of AMLX and SRY genes in the circling cells free fetal DNA (ccffDNA) in these maternal blood specimens by utilizing real time PCR. Our outcomes showed an exceptionally high level of accuracy in real time PCR in contrast with the ultrasound strategy. The outcomes were affirmed by the true fetal sex after parturition in the inspected does. The complete symptomatic rate were 51.11% (23/45) and 97.78% (44/45) for ultrasound and PCR strategies separately. The exactness level of genuine analyzed female and male caprine kidding were 58.33% (7/12), 48.48% (16/33), and 100% (12/12), 96.97% (32/33) for ultrasound and real time PCR techniques separately. While the exactness rates of the two techniques utilized in this investigation for early caprine fetal sexing in respect to early pregnancies periods analyzed uncovered 100% (13/13), 96.3% (26/27), 100% (5/5), and 61.54% (8/13), 40.74% (11/27), 80% (4/5) in early pregnancy periods (58-62, 63-67, 68-73) days for real time PCR and ultrasound strategies individually. In conclusion our outcomes revealed a huge predominant exactness and productivity in fetal sexing in Iraqi singleton pregnant does in early development periods, with very high accuracy in real time PCR in compare to ultrasound techniques.

DEVELOPMENT OF HAIR AND OTHER EXTERNAL FEATURES IN PRENATAL ZEBU CATTLE AS AIDS IN FETAL AGEING

THE sequence and rate of hair growth studied in 150 fetuses, 100 to 231 days of age, from slaughtered Rahaji, Bunaji and Wadara cows. Initial appearance of the following external features were observed in embryo and fetuses from day 24 to 230 gestation: limb buds, mammary ridge, olfactory pits, eyes, eyelids, facial closure, intradigital grooves, ear pinnae, genital tubercle, teats, scrotum, testicular descent, hoof formation, boro buds, teeth eruption, fusion of hard palate, carpal and patella separation, and meconium detection, pattern of hair growth was founded to be indecisive as an aid to ageing Zebu fetuses. Initial appearance of certain external features could serve as a rough but quick ageing guide.

Prenatal low-dose methyltestosterone, but not dihydrotestosterone, treatment induces penile formation in female mice and guinea pigs†

Genital tubercle has bisexual potential before sex differentiation. Females exposed to androgen during sex differentiation show masculinized external genitalia, but the effects of different androgens on tubular urethral and penile formation in females are mostly unknown. In this study, we compared the masculinization effects of commonly used androgens methyltestosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and testosterone on the induction of penile formation in females. Our results suggested that prenatal treatment with low doses of methyltestosterone, but not same doses of dihydrotestosterone or testosterone, could induce penile formation in female mice. The minimum dose of dihydrotestosterone and testosterone for inducing tubular urethral formation in female mice was, respectively, 50 and 20 times higher than that of methyltestosterone. In vivo methyltestosterone treatment induced more nuclear translocation of androgen receptors in genital tubercles of female mice, affected Wnt signaling gene expressions, and then led to similar patterns of cell proliferation and death in developing genital tubercles to those of control males. We further revealed that low-dose methyltestosterone, but not same dose of dihydrotestosterone or testosterone, treatment induced penile formation in female guinea pigs. Exposure of female mouse genital tubercle organ culture to methyltestosterone, dihydrotestosterone, or testosterone could induce nuclear translocation of androgen receptors, suggesting that the differential effect of the three androgens in vivo might be due to the hormonal profile in mother or fetus, rather than the local genital tissue. To understand the differential role of these androgens in masculinization process involved is fundamental to androgen replacement therapy for diseases related to external genital masculinization.

The Diagnosis of Fetal Sexing in Cattle Using Ultrasound

The purpose of this research was to conduct an ultrasound exam in the interval between 49-120 days of gestation for the determination of fetus sex and to establish the interval when the fetal sexing is possible. The research was carried out in three farms from Transylvania. In farm A were examined 25 animals, in farm B 13 animals and in farm C 11 animals. The diagnosis of the fetal sexing was possible for 35 cases, 14 animals were diagnosed as female and 21 were male. In the interval between 56-65 days of gestation the diagnosis of fetal sexing was established by viewing the genital tubercle and in the interval between 65-90 days of gestation the diagnosis was established by viewing the secondary genital organs. In 14 cases the diagnosis was not set; in 4 cases the conception product has not been sufficiently developed, the genital tubercle was not visible, and in 10 cases the fetus was too big and was impossible to localize the genital organs.

LIM homeodomain transcription factor Isl1 affects urethral epithelium differentiation and apoptosis via Shh

Urethral hypoplasia, including failure of urethral tube closure, is one of the common phenotypes observed in hereditary human disorders, the mechanism of which remains unclear. The present study was thus designed to study the expression, functions, and related mechanisms of the LIM homeobox transcription factor Isl1 throughout mouse urethral development. Results showed that Isl1 was highly expressed in urethral epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells of the genital tubercle (GT). Functional studies were carried out by utilizing the tamoxifen-inducible Isl1-knockout mouse model. Histological and morphological results indicated that Isl1 deletion caused urethral hypoplasia and inhibited maturation of the complex urethral epithelium. In addition, we show that Isl1-deleted mice failed to maintain the progenitor cell population required for renewal of urethral epithelium during tubular morphogenesis and exhibited significantly increased cell death within the urethra. Dual-Luciferase reporter assays and yeast one-hybrid assays showed that ISL1 was essential for normal urethral development by directly targeting the Shh gene. Collectively, results presented here demonstrated that Isl1 plays a crucial role in mouse urethral development, thus increasing our potential for understanding the mechanistic basis of hereditary urethral hypoplasia.

Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Is Required for Cyp26 Expression during Embryonic Development

Deciphering how signaling pathways interact during development is necessary for understanding the etiopathogenesis of congenital malformations and disease. In several embryonic structures, components of the Hedgehog and retinoic acid pathways, two potent players in development and disease are expressed and operate in the same or adjacent tissues and cells. Yet whether and, if so, how these pathways interact during organogenesis is, to a large extent, unclear. Using genetic and experimental approaches in the mouse, we show that during development of ontogenetically different organs, including the tail, genital tubercle, and secondary palate, Sonic hedgehog (SHH) loss-of-function causes anomalies phenocopying those induced by enhanced retinoic acid signaling and that SHH is required to prevent supraphysiological activation of retinoic signaling through maintenance and reinforcement of expression of the Cyp26 genes. Furthermore, in other tissues and organs, disruptions of the Hedgehog or the retinoic acid pathways during development generate similar phenotypes. These findings reveal that rigidly calibrated Hedgehog and retinoic acid activities are required for normal organogenesis and tissue patterning.