What role does Bax play during gonocyte transformation into spermatogonial stem cells?
- Research Opportunity
- Honours students, Master of Biomedical Science
- Number of Honour Places Available
- 1
- Number of Master Places Available
- 1
- Department / Centre
- Paediatrics
Primary Supervisor | Number | Webpage | |
---|---|---|---|
Doctor Ruili Li | ruili.li@mcri.edu.au | 99366757 | Personal web page |
Co-supervisor | Number | Webpage | |
---|---|---|---|
Professor John Hutson | john.hutson@mcri.edu.au | 93455808 | Personal web page |
Summary This study will use mouse model to examine the role of an apoptosis regulator, Bax, in removing persisting gonocytes from the testicular tubules so that they do not mutate into CIS cells and testicular seminomas after puberty. The study will involve use mouse flow cytometry immunohistochemistry with molecular markers and confocal microscopy.
Project Details
Congenital undescended testis (UDT), or cryptorchidism, affects 2-4% of newborn boys and leads to a 5-10 fold increase in testicular cancer (seminoma), and 30-60% risk of infertility. Seminomas in young men with UDT arise from immature germ cells which failed in both transformation into spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) and apoptosis. We propose that persisting neonatal germ cells (gonocytes) are the results of gonocytes that failed to transform into SCC or failed to disappear by apoptosis. This study will use mouse model to examine the role of an apoptosis regulator, Bax, in removing persisting gonocytes from the testicular tubules so that they do not mutate into CIS cells and testicular seminomas after puberty. The study will involve use mouse flow cytometry immunohistochemistry with molecular markers and confocal microscopy.
Faculty Research Themes
School Research Themes
Research Opportunities
Honours students, Master of Biomedical Science
Students who are interested in joining this project will need to consider their elegibility as well as other requirements before contacting the supervisor of this research
Key Contact
For further information about this research, please contact a supervisor.
Department / Centre
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