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Women should be counseled regarding reproductive aging and options for fertility preservation. Offering ovarian reserve testing and making OC more affordable may increase the number of women who undergo elective OC.

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Testis differentiation is initiated when Sry in pre-Sertoli cells directs the gonad toward a male-specific fate. Sertoli cells are essential for testis development, but cell types within the interstitial compartment, such as immune and endothelial cells, are also critical for organ formation. Our previous work implicated macrophages in fetal testis morphogenesis, but little is known about genes underlying immune cell development during organogenesis. Here we examine the role of the immune-associated genes Mafb and Maf in mouse fetal gonad development, and we demonstrate that deletion of these genes leads to aberrant hematopoiesis manifested by supernumerary gonadal monocytes. Mafb;Maf double knockout embryos underwent initial gonadal sex determination normally, but exhibited testicular hypervascularization, testis cord formation defects, Leydig cell deficit, and a reduced number of germ cells. In general, Mafb and Maf alone were dispensable for gonad development; however, when both genes were deleted, we observed significant defects in testicular morphogenesis, indicating that Mafb and Maf work redundantly during testis differentiation. These results demonstrate previously unappreciated roles for Mafb and Maf in immune and vascular development and highlight the importance of interstitial cells in gonadal differentiation.Summary statementDeletion of Mafb and Maf genes leads to supernumerary monocytes in fetal mouse gonads, resulting in vascular, morphogenetic, and differentiation defects during testicular organogenesis.

Testis differentiation is initiated when Sry in pre-Sertoli cells directs the gonad toward a male-specific fate. Sertoli cells are essential for testis development, but cell types within the interstitial compartment, such as immune and endothelial cells, are also critical for organ formation. Our previous work implicated macrophages in fetal testis morphogenesis, but little is known about genes underlying immune cell development during organogenesis. Here we examine the role of the immune-associated genes Mafb and Maf in mouse fetal gonad development, and we demonstrate that deletion of these genes leads to aberrant hematopoiesis manifested by supernumerary gonadal monocytes. Mafb; Maf double knockout embryos underwent initial gonadal sex determination normally, but exhibited testicular hypervascularization, testis cord formation defects, Leydig cell deficit, and a reduced number of germ cells. In general, Mafb and Maf alone were dispensable for gonad development; however, when both genes were deleted, we observed significant defects in testicular morphogenesis, indicating that Mafb and Maf work redundantly during testis differentiation. These results demonstrate previously unappreciated roles for Mafb and Maf in immune and vascular development and highlight the importance of interstitial cells in gonadal differentiation.

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INTRODUCTION: There is an interest and willingness among men in the United States to use Male Hormonal Contraception (MHC), however, data is limited among younger men (18 to 35 years old). Our objective is to evaluate the willingness of young males to use MHC and to determine which method (pill, injection, or transdermal gel) is most desirable. METHODS: An IRB-approved survey measuring willingness to use MHC was dispersed to two distinct populations: University of Cincinnati post-graduate programs (UC) and Cincinnati Health Department (CHD) clinics. Results were reported as frequencies in each population and chi-square analyses were performed to compare groups. P-values <.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Of 162 total survey participants, 45% would use MHC while 30.9% were unsure and 23.5% would not use MHC. Overall, the UC survey population was more likely to be interested in using MHC than the CHD population (P<.05). The majority of both populations were most interested in using the injection form. Cited concerns deterring participants from using MHC were different between these two populations, with UC participants having concern about possible failure of contraceptive method, while CHD participants had concern about potential side effects (P<.001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that there is a significant interest among young adult males to use various forms of MHC, especially in injection or pill form. Interest in MHC is more common among individuals with an advanced educational background, employed, or in a relationship. With further research and funding, MHC may serve as a significant way to decrease unintended pregnancies in the future.