title: In vitro fusion of human inguinal hernia with associated epithelial transformation.
abstract: The processus vaginalis (PV) is a peritoneal diverticulum which forms to allow descent of the fetal testis to the scrotum. During human development fusion and obliteration of the PV often fails to occur with the result that inguinal hernias are the most prevalent congenital abnormality requiring surgery in childhood. Androgen is proposed to regulate testicular descent via the genitofemoral nerve which releases the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). It is possible that subsequent fusion of the PV and tissue remodelling following descent is indirectly controlled by androgen via CGRP action. An organ culture assay was developed to assess fusion of the PV taken from inguinal herniotomy in infants. Fusion was induced in vitro by CGRP but not by CGRP 8-37, CGRP 27-37 or dihydrotestosterone in equimolar concentrations. Fusion was accompanied by transformation of the epithelium, as shown by staining of intermediate filament proteins, cytokeratin and vimentin. Localization studies for CGRP receptors on 25 specimens indicated CGRP acts on mesenchymal fibroblasts but not directly on PV epithelium suggesting an indirect pathway. Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor was found to induce fusion of PV and may be involved as an intermediate molecule in the fusion cascade. This study represents the first approach to understanding the humoral control and underlying mechanism by which the PV fuses.
authors.affiliation: F. Douglas Stephens Surgical Research Laboratory, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hutson
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Albano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paxton
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugita
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Clarnette
authors.forename: A Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Farmer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hasthorpe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D002459:Cell Fusion / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D018015:Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting
chemical_list: D018015:Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide