Hypospadias and control of urethral closure

尿道下裂，是一种常见的缺陷，其中尿道不正常地沿着阴茎的轴而不是在尖端打开。每年在维多利亚出生的每125个男孩中就有一个受到影响。然而，超过三分之二的案件的原因无法解释。我们对有袋类动物的研究表明，这一过程是由一种激素（5 α-雄甾烷）介导的，其生理功能以前尚未确定。本研究将为基因和激素的相互作用导致阴茎发育缺陷提供新的数据。

Hypospadias, is a common defect, in which the urethra opens abnormally along the shaft of the penis not at the tip. It affects 1 in every 125 boys born in Victoria each year. However, the cause(s) of over two-thirds of these cases cannot be explained. Our studies using marsupials show that this process is mediated by a hormone (5alpha-androstanediol), with previously undetermined physiological function. This study will provide novel data on the interactions of the genes and hormones that result in defects of penile development.