Publications by authors named "Ben M Lawrence"
Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are essential for male development and fertility. In the canonical androgen production pathway, testosterone is produced in the testis by HSD17B3; however, adult male Hsd17b3 knockout (KO) mice continue to produce androgens and are fertile, indicating compensatory mechanisms exist. A second, alternate pathway produces DHT from precursors other than testosterone via 5α-reductase (SRD5A) activity.
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- - This study highlights the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) as a promising laboratory model for developmental biology, showcasing its unique reproductive monitoring techniques and extensive embryonic development atlas.
- - Researchers tracked female dunnart reproductive cycles, confirmed pregnancies, and provided insightful observations on embryo development stages, especially noting accelerated growth in craniofacial and limb structures compared to other species.
- - The findings underscore the dunnart's potential for enhancing the understanding of marsupial development and offer valuable resources to support biodiversity conservation efforts and research within the scientific community.
Androgens such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are essential for male sexual development, masculinisation, and fertility. Testosterone is produced via the canonical androgen production pathway and is essential for normal masculinisation and testis function. Disruption to androgen production can result in disorders of sexual development (DSD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlucocorticoids are steroids involved in key physiological processes such as development, metabolism, inflammatory and stress responses and are mostly used exogenously as medications to treat various inflammation-based conditions. They act via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expressed in most cells. Exogenous glucocorticoids can negatively impact the function of the Leydig cells in the testis, leading to decreased androgen production.
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