The objective was to assess whether men suffering from testicular retraction secondary to hyperactive cremaster muscle reflex havean anatomic difference in the thickness of the cremaster muscle in comparison to men wh...The objective was to assess whether men suffering from testicular retraction secondary to hyperactive cremaster muscle reflex havean anatomic difference in the thickness of the cremaster muscle in comparison to men who do not have retraction. From March2021 to December 2021, 21 men underwent microsurgical subinguinal cremaster muscle release (MSCMR) on 33 spermatic cordunits, as 12 of them had bilateral surgery, at Surgicare of South Austin Ambulatory Surgery Center in Austin, TX, USA. Duringthat same time frame, 36 men underwent subinguinal microsurgical varicocele repair on 41 spermatic cord units, as 5 werebilateral for infertility. The thickness of cremaster muscles was measured by the operating surgeon in men undergoing MSCMRand varicocele repair. Comparison was made between the cremaster muscle thickness in men with testicular retraction due toa hyperactive cremaster muscle reflex undergoing MSCMR and the cremaster muscle thickness in men undergoing varicocelerepair for infertility with no history of testicular retraction, which served as an anatomic control. The mean cremaster musclethickness in men who underwent MSCMR was significantly greater than those undergoing varicocele repair for infertility, witha mean cremaster muscle thickness of 3.9 (standard deviation [s.d.]: 1.2) mm vs 1.0 (s.d.: 0.4) mm, respectively. Men withtesticular retraction secondary to a hyperactive cremaster muscle reflex demonstrate thicker cremaster muscles than controls,those undergoing varicocele repair. An anatomic difference may be a beginning to understanding the pathology in men whostruggle with testicular retraction.展开更多
The ladybird Harmonia axyridis is an insect that exhibits pupal attachment to plants,which facilitates development and environmental adaptation.The cremaster is highly specialized for this behavior.However,the underly...The ladybird Harmonia axyridis is an insect that exhibits pupal attachment to plants,which facilitates development and environmental adaptation.The cremaster is highly specialized for this behavior.However,the underlying molecular regulation of the cremaster remains unclear;therefore,we performed experiments to investigate the transcriptional regulation of cremaster development.First,we examined the morphological structure of the cremaster to reveal its function in pupal attachment of H.axyridis.Next,we analyzed the Hox gene Ha-Abd-B using RNA interference(RNAi)to determine its function in regulating cremaster formation;Ha-Abd-B up-regulation promoted effective pupal attachment,whereas successful RNAi caused severe down-regulation of this gene,and pupae were unable to attach.Furthermore,successful RNAi and subsequent Ha-Abd-B down-regulation caused phenotypic changes in cremaster structure,including its complete disappearance from some individuals.Finally,we observed unique development of the cremaster and dynamic expression of Ha-Abd-B during pre-pupal development;consequently,we hypothesized that there was specific pre-pupal development of the cremaster.Overall,based on these results,the specialized cremasteric structure located on the posterior side of H.axyridis was determined to be a key organ for pupal attachment.Cremaster identification in H.axyridis is regulated by Ha-Abd-B and exhibits preferential development.Pupal attachment of H.axyridis reveals an environmental adaptation of this species;thus,this study and future molecular studies will help determine the role of Hox genes in regulation of insect attachment and further our understanding of the multiple functions of Hox genes.展开更多
文摘The objective was to assess whether men suffering from testicular retraction secondary to hyperactive cremaster muscle reflex havean anatomic difference in the thickness of the cremaster muscle in comparison to men who do not have retraction. From March2021 to December 2021, 21 men underwent microsurgical subinguinal cremaster muscle release (MSCMR) on 33 spermatic cordunits, as 12 of them had bilateral surgery, at Surgicare of South Austin Ambulatory Surgery Center in Austin, TX, USA. Duringthat same time frame, 36 men underwent subinguinal microsurgical varicocele repair on 41 spermatic cord units, as 5 werebilateral for infertility. The thickness of cremaster muscles was measured by the operating surgeon in men undergoing MSCMRand varicocele repair. Comparison was made between the cremaster muscle thickness in men with testicular retraction due toa hyperactive cremaster muscle reflex undergoing MSCMR and the cremaster muscle thickness in men undergoing varicocelerepair for infertility with no history of testicular retraction, which served as an anatomic control. The mean cremaster musclethickness in men who underwent MSCMR was significantly greater than those undergoing varicocele repair for infertility, witha mean cremaster muscle thickness of 3.9 (standard deviation [s.d.]: 1.2) mm vs 1.0 (s.d.: 0.4) mm, respectively. Men withtesticular retraction secondary to a hyperactive cremaster muscle reflex demonstrate thicker cremaster muscles than controls,those undergoing varicocele repair. An anatomic difference may be a beginning to understanding the pathology in men whostruggle with testicular retraction.
基金Funding of this research was supported by the Chinese Universities Scientific Fund(grant number,Z109021718).
文摘The ladybird Harmonia axyridis is an insect that exhibits pupal attachment to plants,which facilitates development and environmental adaptation.The cremaster is highly specialized for this behavior.However,the underlying molecular regulation of the cremaster remains unclear;therefore,we performed experiments to investigate the transcriptional regulation of cremaster development.First,we examined the morphological structure of the cremaster to reveal its function in pupal attachment of H.axyridis.Next,we analyzed the Hox gene Ha-Abd-B using RNA interference(RNAi)to determine its function in regulating cremaster formation;Ha-Abd-B up-regulation promoted effective pupal attachment,whereas successful RNAi caused severe down-regulation of this gene,and pupae were unable to attach.Furthermore,successful RNAi and subsequent Ha-Abd-B down-regulation caused phenotypic changes in cremaster structure,including its complete disappearance from some individuals.Finally,we observed unique development of the cremaster and dynamic expression of Ha-Abd-B during pre-pupal development;consequently,we hypothesized that there was specific pre-pupal development of the cremaster.Overall,based on these results,the specialized cremasteric structure located on the posterior side of H.axyridis was determined to be a key organ for pupal attachment.Cremaster identification in H.axyridis is regulated by Ha-Abd-B and exhibits preferential development.Pupal attachment of H.axyridis reveals an environmental adaptation of this species;thus,this study and future molecular studies will help determine the role of Hox genes in regulation of insect attachment and further our understanding of the multiple functions of Hox genes.
