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Reproductive tract biology: Of mice and men.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Cunha, GR; Sinclair, A; Ricke, WA; Robboy, SJ; Cao, M; Baskin, LS
Published in: Differentiation
2019

The study of male and female reproductive tract development requires expertise in two separate disciplines, developmental biology and endocrinology. For ease of experimentation and economy, the mouse has been used extensively as a model for human development and pathogenesis, and for the most part similarities in developmental processes and hormone action provide ample justification for the relevance of mouse models for human reproductive tract development. Indeed, there are many examples describing the phenotype of human genetic disorders that have a reasonably comparable phenotype in mice, attesting to the congruence between mouse and human development. However, anatomic, developmental and endocrinologic differences exist between mice and humans that (1) must be appreciated and (2) considered with caution when extrapolating information between all animal models and humans. It is critical that the investigator be aware of both the similarities and differences in organogenesis and hormone action within male and female reproductive tracts so as to focus on those features of mouse models with clear relevance to human development/pathology. This review, written by a team with extensive expertise in the anatomy, developmental biology and endocrinology of both mouse and human urogenital tracts, focusses upon the significant human/mouse differences, and when appropriate voices a cautionary note regarding extrapolation of mouse models for understanding development of human male and female reproductive tracts.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Differentiation

DOI

EISSN

1432-0436

Publication Date

2019

Volume

110

Start / End Page

49 / 63

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Uterus
  • Organogenesis
  • Mullerian Ducts
  • Mice
  • Humans
  • Genitalia, Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Female
  • Epithelium
  • Developmental Biology
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Cunha, G. R., Sinclair, A., Ricke, W. A., Robboy, S. J., Cao, M., & Baskin, L. S. (2019). Reproductive tract biology: Of mice and men. Differentiation, 110, 49–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diff.2019.07.004
Cunha, Gerald R., Adriane Sinclair, Will A. Ricke, Stanley J. Robboy, Mei Cao, and Laurence S. Baskin. “Reproductive tract biology: Of mice and men.Differentiation 110 (2019): 49–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diff.2019.07.004.
Cunha GR, Sinclair A, Ricke WA, Robboy SJ, Cao M, Baskin LS. Reproductive tract biology: Of mice and men. Differentiation. 2019;110:49–63.
Cunha, Gerald R., et al. “Reproductive tract biology: Of mice and men.Differentiation, vol. 110, 2019, pp. 49–63. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.diff.2019.07.004.
Cunha GR, Sinclair A, Ricke WA, Robboy SJ, Cao M, Baskin LS. Reproductive tract biology: Of mice and men. Differentiation. 2019;110:49–63.
Journal cover image

Published In

Differentiation

DOI

EISSN

1432-0436

Publication Date

2019

Volume

110

Start / End Page

49 / 63

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Uterus
  • Organogenesis
  • Mullerian Ducts
  • Mice
  • Humans
  • Genitalia, Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Female
  • Epithelium
  • Developmental Biology