Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
09:49
Assessment of Perigenital Sensitivity and Prostatic Mast Cell Activation in a Mouse Model of Neonatal Maternal Separation
Published on: August 13, 2015
9.7K
Maternal Microchimerism Is Uncommon in Patients with Hypospadias.
Yuki Muranishi1,2, Yuko Katoh-Fukui1, Masafumi Kon2
1Department of Molecular Endocrinology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
Summary
Maternal microchimeric cells were rarely detected in boys with hypospadias. This study suggests maternal microchimerism does not significantly contribute to the risk of hypospadias development.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Genetics
- Pediatric Endocrinology
Background:
- Maternal microchimerism, the transfer of cells between mother and fetus, is linked to various childhood conditions.
- Its role in 46,XY disorders of sex development, such as hypospadias, is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal microchimerism and the risk of hypospadias in boys.
- To determine if maternal cells are present in affected individuals.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative PCR assays were used to detect maternal microchimeric cells in 22 boys with hypospadias.
- Genomic analyses (array CGH, whole-exome sequencing) were performed in cases with additional anomalies.
Main Results:
- Maternal microchimeric cells were detected in 2 out of 22 patients (8.7%).
- The detected levels (1.9 and 32.0 cells per 10^6 total cells) were comparable to reference data.
- No apparent pathogenic variants were found in cases with additional anomalies.
Conclusions:
- The findings do not support a significant role for maternal microchimerism in the etiology of hypospadias.
- Further research may be needed to explore other potential contributing factors.
Related Concept Videos
02:57Meiosis vs. Mitosis
39.5K
Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
39.5K
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
1.2K
The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
1.2K
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
61
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from...
61
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
65
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
65
01:28Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract
53
The human urogenital system, once thought to be sterile in healthy individuals, is now recognized as a complex microbial habitat. Advancements in molecular sequencing techniques have revealed that even in healthy adults, the kidneys and bladder harbor microbial populations similar to those found in the distal urethra, albeit in much lower abundance. These resident microorganisms, while generally innocuous, can become opportunistic pathogens under conditions that alter the urogenital...
53