Summary
Project Summary Hypospadias is one of the most common birth defects in the world, affecting nearly 1% of newborn boys. Hypospadias is abnormal urethra closure, where the urethra exits ventrally along the shaft of the penis, and not the tip. Although hypospadias is common, the origin of 70% of urethral closure defects remains unknown. During urethra closure there are extensive changes in the extracellular matrix composition. Prior to urethra closure, basement membrane surrounding the urethral epithelium is one continuous sheet. As the urethra closes, the basement membrane becomes fragmented. Th
