Müllerian duct regression is a complex process which involves the AMH signalling pathway. We have previously demonstrated that besides AMH and its specific type II receptor (AMHRII), BMPR-IA and Smad5 are two essential factors implicated in this mechanism. Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4 (Smad4) is a transcription factor and the common Smad (co-Smad) involved in transforming growth fa...

Numerous studies have examined the influence of hormones on infectious diseases and there is now a wealth of data relating to the more specific effect of the sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, on urogenital infections. The interaction between these hormones and the immune system is complex and the variation of hormonal effect between species further complicates the true picture as relate...

The prostate develops in the urogenital sinus (UGS) under the influence of androgens. Whilst free androgens can enter the cell to activate the androgen receptor and induce prostate development, approximately 98.5% of androgens in plasma are bound to binding proteins such as sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). There is increasing evidence that an alternative pathway for androgens to enter targe...

Female spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) are the only female mammals that lack an external vaginal opening. Mating and birth take place through a urogenital canal that exits at the tip of a hypertrophied clitoris. This 'masculine' phenotype spurred a search for an alternate source of fetal androgens. Although androstenedione from the maternal ovary is readily metabolized to testosterone by the h...

The aim of this study was to investigate, based on routinely collected data, the scope of family doctors work in the field of men's health. Based on the Croatian Health Service Yearbook in the period from 1995 to 2012, we collected the morbidity data related to male urogenital disorders. The total number of urogenital disorders almost doubled, but the number of diagnoses related to the men incr...

BACKGROUND Showing a prevalence rate of 0.5-0.8%, urogenital malformations discovered in newborns is regarded relatively common. The aim of this study is to examine the efficacy of ultrasound diagnostics in detecting developmental disorders in the urogenital system. METHODS We have processed the prenatal sonographic and postnatal clinical details of 175 urogenital abnormalities in 140 newborn...