research

surgical research

summary

Surgery produces many lifesaving and life changing results. Developing new methods involves new technologies and investigating the causes of defects. Our research aims to understand the origins of congenital and paediatric conditions and to improve treatment, allowing more successful outcomes to be achieved for children.

Our work focuses on:

Urinogenital Defects

  • Anatomical aspects of birth abnormalities
  • Ambiguous genitalia
  • Undescended testis
  • Lack of descent of the testis results in infertility and cancer. Our studies focus on identifying the molecules that control this process and where it can go wrong

Gastrointestinal Defects

  • Anorectal malformations
  • Neuronal control of intestinal motility


The gut has its own nerve cells (the enteric neurons) and connections to the spinal cord and brain. Defects can cause problems or result from trauma or surgery.

  • Chronic constipation
  • Investigating causes
  • Developing new treatments


Reviewing surgical outcomes in the hospital

group leader(s)

  Dr Bridget SouthwellBridget Southwell
  Surgical Research
  Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
  Royal Children's Hospital
  Flemington Road
  Parkville Victoria 3052

  T +61 3 9345 5069
  E bridget.southwell@mcri.edu.au

   group leader biography

 

 

Professor John Hutson
Surgical Research
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
Royal Children's Hospital
Flemington Road
Parkville Victoria 3052

T +61 3 9345 5805
E john.hutson@rch.org.au

current research projects

Project 1:  Molecular Cues in Descent of the Testis.

Undescended testis (cryptorchidism) is the most common congenital anomaly, occurring in 2-4% of boys.  Despite surgical treatment, infertility and testicular cancer are 5-10 times more common in men with cryptochidism than the rest of the population.

We are investigating the molecular events involved in movement of the testis from the middle of the abdomen into the scrotum using mice and rats.

  • The testis moves through tissue composed of fibroblasts and extracellular matrix. This study is investigating which proteases are present to dissolve the extracellular matrix to allow the testis to pass through.
  • When androgen receptor is dysfunctional, the testes fail to descend. This project is investigating the molecular pathways in gubernacular development during testicular descent using androgen receptor-knockout mice. The role of androgen in controlling secretion of proteases is also being investigated.

Project 2: Testis development and cancer: Does androgen receptor play an important role in germ cell transformation?

Infertility and testicular cancer in cryptorchid boys maybe caused by failed transformation of gonocytes into adult dark spermatogonia, which are now thought to be the stem cells for spermatogenesis. This project is investigating germ cell development around birth in androgen receptor-knockout mice.

Project 3: Mapping neural control of colonic motility and secretion in children.

Motility and secretion in the bowel are produced by patterns of neuronal activity. The intestine contains its own neurons (the enteric nervous system). Much is known about the subgroups of neurons and nerves in animals but this knowledge has not been translated into studies on human intestine. We have a range of studies investigating neurotransmitters and receptors (substance P, acetylcholine and opiates) and pacemaker cells (Interstitial cells of Cajal) in human intestine and in children with chronic constipation.

Project 4: Use of transabdominal electrical stimulation to speed up the bowel in children with chronic constipation.

Physiotherapists use transcutaneous electrical stimulation to treat pain and muscle injury.  We have been treating children with slow transit constipation with electrical stimulation through electrodes on the belly and back. Ongoing studies will use daily stimulation, and compare different positions of electrodes in 2 groups of children 1) with slow colonic transit and 2) outlet obstruction. This study uses patient interaction, questionnaires, data entry and analysis and involves physiotherapy, nursing or medical-technology and surgical students.

Project 5: Developing a pig model to optimise transabdominal electrical stimulation to overcome constipation

To understand how the electrical stimulation affects bowel motility we are developing a large animal model using piglets. In this study, pigs will be made constipated and we will determine if transcutaneous electrical stimulation can overcome the constipation. Outcome measures will include bowel transit time and stool wetness.

team members

  • Daniela Bodemer - Research Assistant
  • Shirley D'Cruz - Personal Assistant
  • Vinali De Mel - OBSERVER
  • Kyla Dobson - RESEARCH ASSISTANT
  • Pamela Farmer - Research Assistant
  • David Fisher - CONTRACTOR
  • Megan French - RESEARCH ASSISTANT
  • Denisia Geladas - Research Assistant
  • Georgina Huan - RESEARCH ASSISTANT
  • Julie Jordan-Ely - Research Assistant
  • Ruili Li - Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Nayomi Perera - VOLUNTEER
  • Asha Searle - Visiting Student
  • Magdy Sourial - RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
  • Andre Tan - MPhil/PhD Student (UoM Paeds)
  • Yee Ian Yik - PhD Student (UoM Paeds)

publications

  • Allnutt B., Buraundi S., Farmer P., Southwell BR., Hutson JM., Balic A. The common fetal development of the mammary fat pad and gubernaculum. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC SURGERY 46 (2) : 378 - 383(2011) PubMed
  • Buraundi S., Balic A., Farmer PJ., Southwell BR., Hutson JM. Gubernacular development in the mouse is similar to the rat and suggests that the processus vaginalis is derived from the urogenital ridge and is different from the parietal peritoneum. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC SURGERY 46 (9) : 1804 - 1812(2011) PubMed
  • Chen N., Harisis GN., Farmer P., Buraundi S., Sourial M., Southwell BR., Balic A., Hutson JM. Gone with the Wnt: The canonical Wnt signaling axis is present and androgen dependent in the rodent gubernaculum. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC SURGERY 46 (12) : 2363 - 2369(2011)
  • Churchill JA., Buraundi S., Farmer PJ., Li R., Southwell BR., Hutson JM., Balic A. Gubernaculum as icebreaker: do matrix metalloproteinases in rodent gubernaculums and inguinal fat pad permit testicular descent?. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC SURGERY 46 (12) : 2353 - 2357(2011) PubMed
  • Dai L., Perera DS., King DW., Southwell BR., Burcher E., Liu L. Hemokinin-1 stimulates prostaglandin E production in human colon through activation of cyclooxygenase-2 and inhibition of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (2011) PubMed
  • Kimberley N., Hutson JM., Southwell BR., Grover SR. Vaginal agenesis, the hymen, and associated anomalies. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (2011) PubMed
  • Kimberley N., Hutson JM., Southwell BR., Grover SR. Well-being and sexual function outcomes in women with vaginal agenesis. FERTILITY AND STERILITY 95 (1) : 238 - 241(2011) PubMed
  • Leong LCY., Yik YI., Catto-Smith AG., Robertson VJ., Hutson JM., Southwell BR. Long-term effects of transabdominal electrical stimulation in treating children with slow-transit constipation. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC SURGERY 46 (12) : 2309 - 2312(2011)
  • Lie G., Hutson JM. The role of cremaster muscle in testicular descent in humans and animal models. PEDIATRIC SURGERY INTERNATIONAL 27 (12) : 1255 - 1265(2011) PubMed
  • Nagraj S., Seah GJ., Farmer PJ., Davies B., Southwell B., Lewis AG., Hutson JM. The development and anatomy of the gubernaculum in Hoxa11 knockout mice. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC SURGERY 46 (2) : 387 - 392(2011) PubMed
  • Nation T., Buraundi S., Balic A., Southwell B., Newgreen D., Hutson J. Androgen and estrogen receptor expression in the spinal segments of the genitofemoral nerve during testicular descent. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC SURGERY 46 (8) : 1539 - 1543(2011) PubMed
  • Nation TR., Buraundi S., Balic A., Farmer PJ., Newgreen D., Southwell BR., Hutson JM. The effect of flutamide on expression of androgen and estrogen receptors in the gubernaculum and surrounding structures during testicular descent. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC SURGERY 46 : 2358 - 2362(2011) PubMed
  • Nation TR., Buraundi S., Farmer PJ., Balic A., Newgreen D., Southwell BR., Hutson JM. Development of the Gubernaculum During Testicular Descent in the Rat. ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY 294 (7) : 1249 - 1260(2011) PubMed
  • Pereira-Fantini PM., Thomas SL., Wilson G., Taylor RG., Sourial M., Bines JE. Short- and long-term effects of small bowel resection: a unique histological study in a piglet model of short bowel syndrome. HISTOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY 135 (2) : 195 - 202(2011) PubMed
  • Sanders N., Buraundi S., Balic A., Southwell BR., Hutson JM. Cremaster muscle myogenesis in the tip of the rat gubernaculum supports active gubernacular elongation during inguinoscrotal testicular descent. Journal of Urology 186 (4) : 1606 - 1613(2011) PubMed
  • Tan A., Yang J., Tauschek M., Praszkier J., Robins-Browne RM. Autogenous Transcriptional Regulation of the regA Gene, Encoding an AraC-Like, Essential Virulence Regulator in Citrobacter rodentium. JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY 193 (7) : 1777 - 1782(2011) PubMed
  • van Wunnik BPW., Baeten CGMI., Southwell BR. Neuromodulation for constipation: Sacral and transcutaneous stimulation. BEST PRACTICE & RESEARCH IN CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY 25 (1) : 181 - 191(2011) PubMed
  • White S., Ohnesorg T., Notini A., Roeszler K., Hewitt J., Daggag H., Smith C., Turbitt E., Gustin S., van den Bergen J., Miles D., Western P., Arboleda V., Schumacher V., Gordon L., Bell K., Bengtsson H., Speed T., Hutson J., Warne G., Harley V., Koopman P., Vilain E., Sinclair A. Copy Number Variation in Patients with Disorders of Sex Development Due to 46,XY Gonadal Dysgenesis. PLOS ONE 6 (3) (2011) PubMed
  • Yik YI., Cain TM., Tudball CF., Cook DJ., Southwell BR., Hutson JM. Nuclear transit studies of patients with intractable chronic constipation reveal a subgroup with rapid proximal colonic transit. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC SURGERY 46 (7) : 1406 - 1411(2011) PubMed
  • Yik YI., Clarke MCC., Catto-Smith AG., Robertson VJ., Sutcliffe JR., Chase JW., Gibb S., Cain TM., Cook DJ., Tudball CF., Hutson JM., Southwell BR. Slow-transit constipation with concurrent upper gastrointestinal dysmotility and its response to transcutaneous electrical stimulation. PEDIATRIC SURGERY INTERNATIONAL 27 (7) : 705 - 711(2011) PubMed
  • Yik YI., Farmer PJ., King SK., Chow CW., Hutson JM., Southwell BR. Gender differences in reduced substance P (SP) in children with slow-transit constipation. PEDIATRIC SURGERY INTERNATIONAL 27 (7) : 699 - 704(2011) PubMed

competitive funding

NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship
NHMRC Project Grants
NHMRC Development Grant

collaborations & affiliations

Dr Don Newgreen and Dr Kerry Landman, Murdoch Childrens and Math Department, University of Melbourne
Gail Rishburger, Monash University
Prof Liz Burcher and Dr Lulu Liu,  Dept of Pharmacology
School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales
Penny Lynn, Peter Bampton, David Wattchow, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide
Stewart Cleeve, Mark Scott, Charlie Knowles
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK
Tony Catto-Smith, Dept Gastroenterology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne
Prof Kate Loveland, Monash University