Anogenital Distance as a Biomarker for Incomplete Masculinization: Molecular Mechanisms in the Perineum
January 2020
in “
Research Portal Denmark
”
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Studysummary This study concludes that anti-androgenic chemicals causing short anogenital distance in male fetuses also induce a feminized transcriptional profile in the perineum, implicating Wnt and estrogen signaling in the process.
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The study explored the role of androgen signaling in the development of the anogenital distance (AGD) as a biomarker for incomplete masculinization, focusing on the molecular mechanisms in the perineum. It found that a short male AGD, linked to disrupted fetal androgen action, was associated with a feminized transcriptional profile in perineal tissues. The research identified Wnt and estrogen signaling pathways as potential contributors to perineal development, with anti-androgenic chemicals like finasteride and enzalutamide affecting these pathways. The study suggested that differences in progenitor cell populations might underlie the sex-specific development of perineal muscles, providing new targets for future research on chemically induced effects on AGD.
