The most common anomaly of the genitourinary system is hypospadias, a malformation of the external genitalia that is characterized by failure of urethral tube closure and incomplete formation of the prepuce (foreskin) and ventral penis. The incidence of hypospadias has more than doubled over the past 30 years, without explanation, and it is now the second most common birth defect in humans, affecting an estimated 1 of every 250 live births. Whether the causes of hypospadias are genetic, environmental, or a combination of both, development of preventative strategies for hypospadias and of cell-based therapies for repair of urologic tissues will require knowledge of the genetic programs that direct cell fate decisions and tissue morphogenesis. Identification of these mechanisms first requires the establishment of a foundation of descriptive data, in the form of gene expression patterns, for the different tissue compartments of the lower genitourinary tract. Moreover, transcriptional profiling will need to be linked to developmental anatomy in order to formulate hypotheses regarding gene function during morphogenesis, and to consider how multiple genes may interact within a tissue or cell population. In preliminary studies using microarrays, we identifie 86 novel markers of the urethral epithelium of the El 2.5 genital tubercle. Here we propose to use OPT to build a 3D reference model of the genital tubercle, and to map the expression domains of each of these genes onto the reference tubercle to create a 3D, multi-gene atlas of the gene expression in the developing external genitalia. We will build upon these results in two ways. Firstly, we will extend the OPT atlas to two additional stages of external genital development. Secondly, we will drill deeper into the expression profiling by using NexGen sequencing technology (RNA-seq) to characterize the quantitative patterns of gene expression and the distribution of splice variants in the endodermal cells fated to form the urethral epithelium. This combination of approaches will provide a wealth of new cell type-specific markers, uncover the quantitative molecular profiles of urethral progenitors, and place these data in a 3D developmental anatomical context that can be utilized by the research community for future hypothesis-based studies.

Public Health Relevance

Hypospadias is a genitourinary malformation involving failure of urethral tube closure, and it is now the second most common birth defect in humans. Our goals are to develop a 3D atlas of gene expression in the genital tubercle and urethra, and to uncover new markers of the future urethral epithelium. The results will provide a framework for hypothesis generation and a better understanding of urologic development.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
5U01DK094523-02
Application #
8334663
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDK1-GRB-R (O2))
Program Officer
Hoshizaki, Deborah K
Project Start
2011-09-30
Project End
2016-08-31
Budget Start
2012-09-01
Budget End
2013-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$384,430
Indirect Cost
$130,163
Name
University of Florida
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
969663814
City
Gainesville
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32611
Armfield, Brooke A; Seifert, Ashley W; Zheng, Zhengui et al. (2016) Molecular Characterization of the Genital Organizer: Gene Expression Profile of the Mouse Urethral Plate Epithelium. J Urol 196:1295-302
Georgas, Kylie M; Armstrong, Jane; Keast, Janet R et al. (2015) An illustrated anatomical ontology of the developing mouse lower urogenital tract. Development 142:1893-908
Herrera, Ana M; Cohn, Martin J (2014) Embryonic origin and compartmental organization of the external genitalia. Sci Rep 4:6896