Juvenile rank can predict male-typical adult mating behavior in female sheep treated prenatally with testosterone

Multifaceted Interplay among Social Dominance, Body Condition, Appetitive and Consummatory Sexual Behaviors, and Semen Quality in Dorper Rams during Out-Of-Season and Transition Periods

Dorper rams (n = 24) were evaluated during the sexual resting season to determine their social rank (SR), either high (HSR) or low (LSR), under intensive management conditions in northern Mexico (25° N). Aggressive behaviors were quantified during male-to-male interactions, and appetitive and consummatory sexual behaviors during male-to-female interactions. Morphometric, live weight (LW), and body condition score (BCS) were recorded. During the early reproductive season, male-to-female behaviors were newly itemized simultaneously by seminal quality and quantity sampling. Finally, the dependent variables of the hemogram components were also quantified. Neither LW (61.25 ± 2.4 kg) nor morphometric variables differed between SR groups. However, BCS (2.25 vs. 2.66 u), sexual behaviors (i.e., approaches: 59.6 vs. 21.73 n, mating with ejaculation: 77.7 vs. 42.86 %, latency to ejaculation: 16.6 vs. 143.07 s), ejaculate volume (0.57 vs. 0.23 mL), and hemogram components favored the HSR rams (p < 0.05). Moreover, in their first male-to-female interaction, >50% of the LSR rams failed to display any sexual activity. HSR rams displayed a greater number of threatening behaviors, managing to displace LSR rams when exposed to estrus ewes during the male sexual resting season; more sexual behaviors; and an increased seminal volume in a non-live weight-dependent fashion.

Endocrine and metabolic interactions in healthy pregnancies and hyperinsulinemic pregnancies affected by polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes and obesity

During pregnancy, the fetoplacental unit is key in the pronounced physiological endocrine changes which support pregnancy, fetal development and survival, birth and lactation. In healthy women, pregnancy is characterized by changes in insulin sensitivity and increased maternal androgen levels. These are accompanied by a suite of mechanisms that support fetal growth, maintain glucose homeostasis and protect both mother and fetus from adverse effects of pregnancy induced insulin and androgen excess. In pregnancies affected by endocrine, metabolic disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), diabetes and obesity, there is an imbalance of beneficial and adverse impacts of pregnancy induced endocrine changes. These inter-related conditions are characterized by an interplay of hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenism which influence fetoplacental function and are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, macrosomia, preterm delivery and caesarean section. However, the exact underlying mechanisms and relationships of the endocrine and metabolic milieu in these disorders and the impact they have on the prenatal endocrine environment and developing fetus remain poorly understood. Here we aim to review the complex endocrine and metabolic interactions in healthy women during normal pregnancies and those in pregnancies complicated by hyperinsulinemic disorders (PCOS, diabetes and obesity). We also explore the relationships between these endocrine and metabolic differences and the fetoplacental unit, pregnancy outcomes and the developing fetus.

A Comparison of Sexual Function in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Whose Mothers Had PCOS During Their Pregnancy Period with Those Without PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women during reproductive ages. Clinical symptoms associated with PCOS, such as hirsutism, acne, alopecia, obesity, and infertility, may lead to emotional morbidity and then impaired sexual function in those affected. During intrauterine development, the fetus may program the development of diseases during adulthood. In this study, we aimed to examine sexual function in women with PCOS, exposed to maternal androgen excess during their prenatal life compared to non-exposed PCOS patients. In this cross-sectional study, 768 married women with PCOS, aged 18-49 years, were subdivided into two groups, based on their mothers' PCOS status: women whose mothers had PCOS (N = 94) and women whose mothers did not have PCOS (N = 674). Data were collected using a questionnaire including information on demographics, anthropometric and reproductive characteristics, and the Female Sexual Function Index. Blood serum samples were collected from patients for assessment of total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin levels. Results revealed that sexual dysfunction was significantly higher in PCOS women whose mothers also had PCOS, compared to those whose mothers did not (38.6 vs. 25.3%, p = .01). After adjusting for confounding variables, logistic regression analysis showed that odds ratios for sexual dysfunction (total) and sexual dysfunction in the pain domain were significantly higher in the exposed PCOS women versus the non-exposed women (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.06-3.07, p = .02 and 1.68, 95% CI 1.01-2.77, p = .04, respectively). Our study demonstrates increased sexual dysfunction in PCOS women whose mothers also had PCOS.

Gestational Hyperandrogenism in Developmental Programming

Androgen excess (hyperandrogenism) is a common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. The potential causes of androgen excess in women include polycystic ovary syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), adrenal tumors, and racial disparity among many others. During pregnancy, luteoma, placental aromatase deficiency, and fetal CAH are additional causes of gestational hyperandrogenism. The present report reviews the various phenotypes of hyperandrogenism during pregnancy and its origin, pathophysiology, and the effect of hyperandrogenism on the fetal developmental trajectory and offspring consequences.

Sex differences and effects of prenatal exposure to excess testosterone on ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons in adult sheep

Prenatal testosterone (T) excess in sheep results in a wide array of reproductive neuroendocrine deficits and alterations in motivated behavior. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) plays a critical role in reward and motivated behaviors and is hypothesised to be targeted by prenatal T. Here we report a sex difference in the number VTA dopamine cells in the adult sheep, with higher numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive (-ir) cells in males than females. Moreover, prenatal exposure to excess T during either gestational days 30-90 or 60-90 resulted in increased numbers of VTA TH-ir cells in adult ewes compared to control females. Stereological analysis confirmed significantly greater numbers of neurons in the VTA of males and prenatal T-treated ewes, which was primarily accounted for by greater numbers of TH-ir cells. In addition, immunoreactivity for TH in the cells was denser in males and prenatal T-treated females, suggesting that sex differences and prenatal exposure to excess T affects both numbers of cells expressing TH and the protein levels within dopamine cells. Sex differences were also noted in numbers of TH-ir cells in the substantia nigra, with more cells in males than females. However, prenatal exposure to excess T did not affect numbers of TH-ir cells in the substantia nigra, suggesting that this sex difference is organised independently of prenatal actions of T. Together, these results demonstrate sex differences in the sheep VTA dopamine system which are mimicked by prenatal treatment with excess T.

Wired on steroids: sexual differentiation of the brain and its role in the expression of sexual partner preferences

The preference to seek out a sexual partner of the opposite sex is robust and ensures reproduction and survival of the species. Development of female-directed partner preference in the male is dependent on exposure of the developing brain to gonadal steroids synthesized during critical periods of sexual differentiation of the central nervous system. In the absence of androgen exposure, a male-directed partner preference develops. The development and expression of sexual partner preference has been extensively studied in rat, ferret, and sheep model systems. From these models it is clear that gonadal testosterone, often through estrogenic metabolites, cause both masculinization and defeminization of behavior during critical periods of brain development. Changes in the steroid environment during these critical periods result in atypical sexual partner preference. In this manuscript, we review the major findings which support the hypothesis that the organizational actions of sex steroids are responsible for sexual differentiation of sexual partner preferences in select non-human species. We also explore how this information has helped to frame our understanding of the biological influences on human sexual orientation and gender identity.