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Androgens and masculinization of genitalia in the spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta). 2. Effects of prenatal anti-androgens.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Drea, CM; Weldele, ML; Forger, NG; Coscia, EM; Frank, LG; Licht, P; Glickman, SE
Published in: Journal of reproduction and fertility
May 1998

Pregnant spotted hyaenas were treated with anti-androgens to interfere with the unusually masculine 'phallic' development that characterizes females of this species. The effects on genital morphology and plasma androgen concentrations of infants were studied during the first 6 months of life. Although there were consistent 'feminizing' effects of prenatal anti-androgen treatment on genital morphology in both sexes, such exposure did not produce males with extreme hypospadia, as it does in other species, nor did it produce females with a 'typical' mammalian clitoris and external vagina. 'Feminization' of males resulted in a penis with the morphological features of the hyaena clitoris, and 'feminization' of females exaggerated the sex differences that are typical of this species. The effects of treatment were present at birth and persisted for at least 6 months. Treatment of pregnant females with flutamide and finasteride also markedly reduced circulating concentrations of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in maternal plasma during pregnancy. Plasma delta 4-androstenedione was reduced in the female, but not the male, infants of treated mothers, consistent with an epigenetic hypothesis previously advanced to explain hormonal 'masculinization' of females. The present 'feminizing' effects of prenatal anti-androgen treatment are consistent with contemporary understanding of sexual differentiation, which accounts for morphological variation between the sexes in terms of steroids. However, current theory does not account for the basic genital structure of females and the present data suggest that development of the male penis and scrotum, and the female clitoris and pseudoscrotum, in spotted hyaenas may involve both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent components.

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Published In

Journal of reproduction and fertility

DOI

ISSN

0022-4251

Publication Date

May 1998

Volume

113

Issue

1

Start / End Page

117 / 127

Related Subject Headings

  • Urogenital System
  • Sex Differentiation
  • Pregnancy
  • Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
  • Maternal-Fetal Exchange
  • Male
  • Genitalia
  • Flutamide
  • Finasteride
  • Female
 

Citation

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Drea, C. M., Weldele, M. L., Forger, N. G., Coscia, E. M., Frank, L. G., Licht, P., & Glickman, S. E. (1998). Androgens and masculinization of genitalia in the spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta). 2. Effects of prenatal anti-androgens. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 113(1), 117–127. https://doi.org/10.1530/jrf.0.1130117
Drea, C. M., M. L. Weldele, N. G. Forger, E. M. Coscia, L. G. Frank, P. Licht, and S. E. Glickman. “Androgens and masculinization of genitalia in the spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta). 2. Effects of prenatal anti-androgens.Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 113, no. 1 (May 1998): 117–27. https://doi.org/10.1530/jrf.0.1130117.
Drea CM, Weldele ML, Forger NG, Coscia EM, Frank LG, Licht P, et al. Androgens and masculinization of genitalia in the spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta). 2. Effects of prenatal anti-androgens. Journal of reproduction and fertility. 1998 May;113(1):117–27.
Drea, C. M., et al. “Androgens and masculinization of genitalia in the spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta). 2. Effects of prenatal anti-androgens.Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, vol. 113, no. 1, May 1998, pp. 117–27. Epmc, doi:10.1530/jrf.0.1130117.
Drea CM, Weldele ML, Forger NG, Coscia EM, Frank LG, Licht P, Glickman SE. Androgens and masculinization of genitalia in the spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta). 2. Effects of prenatal anti-androgens. Journal of reproduction and fertility. 1998 May;113(1):117–127.

Published In

Journal of reproduction and fertility

DOI

ISSN

0022-4251

Publication Date

May 1998

Volume

113

Issue

1

Start / End Page

117 / 127

Related Subject Headings

  • Urogenital System
  • Sex Differentiation
  • Pregnancy
  • Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
  • Maternal-Fetal Exchange
  • Male
  • Genitalia
  • Flutamide
  • Finasteride
  • Female