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External Genital Development, Urethra Formation, and Hypospadias Induction in Guinea Pig: A Double Zipper Model for
Shanshan Wang1, Mingxin Shi1, Dongqing Zhu2
1Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL.
Urology
|November 21, 2017
Summary
Guinea pig penile development closely models human development. Pharmacological manipulation confirmed its utility for studying hypospadias and urethral formation, making it a suitable research model.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Comparative embryology
- Reproductive science
Background:
- Human penile development and sexual differentiation are complex processes.
- Understanding these processes is crucial for addressing congenital anomalies like hypospadias.
- Animal models are essential for studying these mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the guinea pig phallus as a model for human penile development.
- To characterize guinea pig external genitalia embryology and sexual differentiation.
- To investigate the role of androgens in penile development and urethral formation.
Main Methods:
- Embryonic guinea pig external genitalia were collected and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and histology.
- Immunohistochemistry identified androgen receptor localization.
- Pharmacological agents (bicalutamide, methyltestosterone) were administered to pregnant dams.
Main Results:
- Guinea pig urethral development involves canalization and dorsal-to-ventral movement, forming a urethral groove in both sexes.
- Males exhibit distal-opening-proximal-closing for tubular urethra formation.
- Androgen receptor expression was higher in male proximal genital tubercles.
- Antiandrogen treatment induced hypospadias in males; methyltestosterone induced tubular urethra in females.
Conclusions:
- Guinea pig phallus development is homologous to human development.
- The urethral groove and tubular urethra formation in guinea pigs are more similar to humans than to mice.
- The guinea pig is an appropriate model for studying urethral formation mechanisms and hypospadias pathophysiology.
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