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Título

DO PRUNE BELLY SYNDROME AND NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS CHANGE TESTICULAR GROWTH? A STUDY IN HUMAN FETUSES

Resumo

OBJECTIVE: To compare the growth of testis from anencephalic fetuses (AF), Prune Belly Syndrome (PBS) and fetuses without anomalies.
METHODS: We studied 70 testes from fetuses without anomalies, aged 11-22 weeks post conception (WPC); 30 testes from AF, aged 13-19 WPC; and eight testes from PBS fetuses, aged 13-16 WPC. The fetuses were also evaluated regarding crown-rump length (CRL) and body weight immediately before dissection. We evaluated testicular length, width and thickness with the aid of computer programs (Image Pro and Image J). The fetal testicular volume was calculated using the ellipsoid formula: Testicular volume (TV) = [length x thickness x width] x 0.523. Means were statistically compared using the unpaired t-test and linear regression was performed.
Results: The right (p=0.0310) and left (0.0470) testicular volumes were significantly smaller in AF compared to the control group. We did not observe significant differences between the testicular volumes in PBS fetuses compared to the control group. The linear regression analysis indicated that the right and the left testis volume in the control group (Right: r2= 0.6665; Left: r2=0.6707) and PBS group (Right:r2=0.9937; Left: r2=0.9757) increased significantly and positively with fetal age (p<0.0001). This analysis also indicated that the testicular volume in AF did not increase significantly with fetal age (Rigth:r2=009816;Left: r2=0.07643).
CONCLUSIONS: Testicular growth presents a lower rate and does not show significant correlations with fetal parameters during the period studied in fetuses with anencephaly. We did not observe significant differences in testicular development in fetuses with PBS during the period studied.

Palavras Chave ( separado por ; )

sindrome de prune belly, anencefalia, testículo, fetos