The Limb Bud As A Model For Gubernacular Migration During Inguinoscrotal Testicular Descent.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$439,073.00
Summary
This project examines the mechanism of descent of the testes from its original position inside the abdomen of the fetus to the scrotum in baby boys. When this process is abnormal, it leads to the common anomaly of undescended testes. Tha ultimate aim is to understand the process well enough to consider nonoperative treatment. The study will look at the tip of the gubernaculum, the ligament that anchors the testis to the groin early in development, and how it develops a growing tip that elongates ....This project examines the mechanism of descent of the testes from its original position inside the abdomen of the fetus to the scrotum in baby boys. When this process is abnormal, it leads to the common anomaly of undescended testes. Tha ultimate aim is to understand the process well enough to consider nonoperative treatment. The study will look at the tip of the gubernaculum, the ligament that anchors the testis to the groin early in development, and how it develops a growing tip that elongates towards the scrotum. The project will examine the factors controlling this process as well as the embryological mechanism involved.Read moreRead less
The Genitofemoral Nerve And Gubernaculum In Testicular Descent And Inguinal Hernia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$339,750.00
Summary
This project examines the mechanism of descent of the testis, which when abnormal, leads to the common anomaly in infant boys of undescended testes. In addition, the tunnel through the abdominal wall which permits testicular descent very commonly fails to close afterwards, allowing the intestines to protrude through the hole to cause an inguinal hernia, which is a tender lump in the groin,and requires surgery to resolve. Our long-term aim is to understand testicular descent and inguinal closure ....This project examines the mechanism of descent of the testis, which when abnormal, leads to the common anomaly in infant boys of undescended testes. In addition, the tunnel through the abdominal wall which permits testicular descent very commonly fails to close afterwards, allowing the intestines to protrude through the hole to cause an inguinal hernia, which is a tender lump in the groin,and requires surgery to resolve. Our long-term aim is to understand testicular descent and inguinal closure well enough to develop non-surgical treatments for these two conditions, which are the two commonest abnormalities in children requiring surgery. We will examine how male hormones control descent of the testis indirectly by altering the anatomy and function of a specific nerve suplying the groin and scrotum. A simple and safe treatment that avoided surgery would be a major advance for infants in the developing world.Read moreRead less
Identifying The Physiological Actions Of Calcitonin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$683,040.00
Summary
Calcitonin is a hormone whose main action has long been regarded as the slowing down of bone breakdown, however, its importance in human physiology is unknown. The aim of this study is to understand the role of calcitonin in regulating bone formation and protecting the skeleton in times of calcium stress, such as lactation. These results will greatly advance our understanding of the control of bone and calcium homeostasis, which will have implications for the treatment of bone disorders.
Breast cancer remains the major form of cancer diagnosed in women, and is still the leading cause of cancer death. There remains a pressing need to find better ways to treat this disease. Increasingly, cancer treatments will make use of a growing knowledge of the factors that normally regulate cell growth, and will apply this knowledge to make cancer cells more sensitive to existing anticancer treatments. We are proposing here to study the hormone calcitonin as a novel regulator of cancer cell g ....Breast cancer remains the major form of cancer diagnosed in women, and is still the leading cause of cancer death. There remains a pressing need to find better ways to treat this disease. Increasingly, cancer treatments will make use of a growing knowledge of the factors that normally regulate cell growth, and will apply this knowledge to make cancer cells more sensitive to existing anticancer treatments. We are proposing here to study the hormone calcitonin as a novel regulator of cancer cell growth. Calcitonin is better known as a hormone that inhibits bone loss, by acting on bone resorbing cells called osteoclasts. However, our present proposal is based on our recent finding that the receptor for calcitonin is for some reason also found in many breast cancers. Moreover, we have shown that calcitonin can potently inhibit the growth of cells that have the calcitonin receptor on their surface. We plan to extend these findings in 4 ways: 1 We will make use of a large bank of breast cancer samples at the Royal Adelaide Hospital to determine whether the presence of the calcitonin receptor in breast cancers is related to other features of the tumours, such as their propensity to spread to other organs. 2 We will investigate the mechanisms by which calcitonin slows the growth of cells. 3 We have unique access to new calcitonin-like molecules, called calcitonin mimetics, which we will investigate for the ability to inhibit cell growth. These molecules are much cheaper and probably easier to administer than calcitonin itself. 4 We will investigate whether treatment of cells with calcitonin makes them more sensitive to other anticancer treatments. We hope that success in this project will lead to a more detailed understanding of the way that molecules like calcitonin can regulate cell growth and to new treatment options for cancer.Read moreRead less