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Shang J, Huang C, Zheng Q, Feng J, He K, Xie H. Imaging features, clinical characteristics and neonatal outcomes of pregnancy luteoma: A case series and literature review. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2024; 103:740-750. [PMID: 37710408 PMCID: PMC10993364 DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study aimed to investigate the imaging features, clinical characteristics and neonatal outcomes of pregnancy luteoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed patients with pregnancy luteoma admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 2003 and December 2022. We recorded their imaging features, clinical characteristics and neonatal outcomes. Additionally, we reviewed relevant studies in the field. RESULTS In total, 127 cases were identified, including eight from our hospital and 119 from the literature. Most patients (93/127, 73.23%) were of reproductive age, 20-40 years old, and 66% were parous. Maternal hirsutism or virilization (such as deepening voice, acne, facial hair growth and clitoromegaly) was observed in 29.92% (38/127), whereas 59.06% of patients (75/127) were asymptomatic. Abdominal pain was reported in 13 patients due to compression, torsion or combined ectopic pregnancy. The pregnancy luteomas, primarily discovered during the third trimester (79/106, 74.53%), varied in size ranging from 10 mm to 20 cm in diameter. Seventy-five cases were incidentally detected during cesarean section or postpartum tubal ligation, and 39 were identified through imaging or physical examination during pregnancy. Approximately 26.61% of patients had bilateral lesions. The majority of pregnancy luteomas were solid and well-defined (94/107, 87.85%), with 43.06% (31/72) displaying multiple solid and well-circumscribed nodules. Elevated serum androgen levels (reaching values between 1.24 and 1529 times greater than normal values for term gestation) were observed in patients with hirsutism or virilization, with a larger lesion diameter (P < 0.001) and a higher prevalence of bilateral lesions (P < 0.001). Among the female infants born to masculinized mothers, 68.18% (15/22) were virilized. Information of imaging features was complete in 22 cases. Ultrasonography revealed well-demarcated hypoechoic solid masses with rich blood supply in 12 of 19 cases (63.16%). Nine patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT), and six exhibited solid masses, including three with multi-nodular solid masses. CONCLUSIONS Pregnancy luteomas mainly manifest as well-defined, hypoechoic and hypervascular solid masses. MRI and CT are superior to ultrasonography in displaying the imaging features of multiple nodules. Maternal masculinization and solid masses with multiple nodules on imaging may help diagnose this rare disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian‐Hong Shang
- Department of Ultrasonic MedicineFirst Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Cai‐Xin Huang
- Department of Ultrasonic MedicineFirst Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Qiao Zheng
- Department of Ultrasonic MedicineFirst Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Jie‐Ling Feng
- Department of Ultrasonic MedicineFirst Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ke He
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyFirst Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Hong‐Ning Xie
- Department of Ultrasonic MedicineFirst Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
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Zhang YL, Wang LY, Yang Y, Zhao X, Zhu HW, You C, Chen N, Wei SJ, Li SF, Gao WJ. Gibberellins regulate masculinization through the SpGAI-SpSTM module in dioecious spinach. Plant J 2024. [PMID: 38491869 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
The sex of dioecious plants is mainly determined by genetic factors, but it can also be converted by environmental cues such as exogenous phytohormones. Gibberellic acids (GAs) are well-known inducers of flowering and sexual development, yet the pathway of gibberellin-induced sex conversion in dioecious spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) remains elusive. Based on sex detection before and after GA3 application using T11A and SSR19 molecular markers, we confirmed and elevated the masculinization effect of GA on a single female plant through exogenous applications of GA3 , showing complete conversion and functional stamens. Silencing of GIBBERELLIC ACID INSENSITIVE (SpGAI), a single DELLA family protein that is a central GA signaling repressor, results in similar masculinization. We also show that SpGAI can physically interact with the spinach KNOX transcription factor SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (SpSTM), which is a homolog of the flower meristem identity regulator STM in Arabidopsis. The silencing of SpSTM also masculinized female flowers in spinach. Furthermore, SpSTM could directly bind the intron of SpPI to repress SpPI expression in developing female flowers. Overall, our results suggest that GA induces a female masculinization process through the SpGAI-SpSTM-SpPI regulatory module in spinach. These insights may help to clarify the molecular mechanism underlying the sex conversion system in dioecious plants while also elucidating the physiological basis for the generation of unisexual flowers so as to establish dioecy in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Lan Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Li-Ying Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Yi Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Xu Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Hong-Wei Zhu
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Chen You
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Ning Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Shuai-Jie Wei
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Shu-Fen Li
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Wu-Jun Gao
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
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Qiao K, Liang Z, Wang A, Wu Q, Yang S, Ma Y, Li S, Schiwy S, Jiang J, Zhou S, Ye Q, Hollert H, Gui W. Waterborne Tebuconazole Exposure Induces Male-Biased Sex Differentiation in Zebrafish ( Danio rerio) Larvae via Aromatase Inhibition. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:16764-16778. [PMID: 37890152 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Tebuconazole is a widely used fungicide for various crops that targets sterol 14-α-demethylase (CYP51) in fungi. However, attention has shifted to aromatase (CYP19) due to limited research indicating its reproductive impact on aquatic organisms. Herein, zebrafish were exposed to 0.5 mg/L tebuconazole at different developmental stages. The proportion of males increased significantly after long-term exposure during the sex differentiation phase (0-60, 5-60, and 19-60 days postfertilization (dpf)). Testosterone levels increased and 17β-estradiol and cyp19a1a expression levels decreased during the 5-60 dpf exposure, while the sex ratio was equally distributed on coexposure with 50 ng/L 17β-estradiol. Chemically activated luciferase gene expression bioassays determined that the male-biased sex differentiation was not caused by tebuconazole directly binding to sex hormone receptors. Protein expression and phosphorylation levels were specifically altered in the vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway despite excluding the possibility of tebuconazole directly interacting with kinases. Aromatase was selected for potential target analysis. Molecular docking and aromatase activity assays demonstrated the interactions between tebuconazole and aromatase, highlighting that tebuconazole poses a threat to fish populations by inducing a gender imbalance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Qiao
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
- Institute of Nuclear-Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
- Department Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Faculty Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Zhuoying Liang
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
| | - Aoxue Wang
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
| | - Qiong Wu
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
- Patent Examination Cooperation (Henan) Center of the Patent Office, CNIPA, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Siyu Yang
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
| | - Yongfang Ma
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
| | - Shuying Li
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
| | - Sabrina Schiwy
- Department Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Faculty Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jinhua Jiang
- Institute of Agro-Products Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, P. R. China
| | - Shengli Zhou
- Zhejiang Province Environmental Monitoring Center, Hangzhou 310012, P. R. China
| | - Qingfu Ye
- Institute of Nuclear-Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
| | - Henner Hollert
- Department Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Faculty Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department Environmental Media Related Ecotoxicology, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Wenjun Gui
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
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Valdivieso A, Caballero-Huertas M, Moraleda-Prados J, Piferrer F, Ribas L. Exploring the Effects of Rearing Densities on Epigenetic Modifications in the Zebrafish Gonads. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16002. [PMID: 37958987 PMCID: PMC10647740 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242116002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Rearing density directly impacts fish welfare, which, in turn, affects productivity in aquaculture. Previous studies have indicated that high-density rearing during sexual development in fish can induce stress, resulting in a tendency towards male-biased sex ratios in the populations. In recent years, research has defined the relevance of the interactions between the environment and epigenetics playing a key role in the final phenotype. However, the underlying epigenetic mechanisms of individuals exposed to confinement remain elucidated. By using zebrafish (Danio rerio), the DNA methylation promotor region and the gene expression patterns of six genes, namely dnmt1, cyp19a1a, dmrt1, cyp11c1, hsd17b1, and hsd11b2, involved in the DNA maintenance methylation, reproduction, and stress were assessed. Zebrafish larvae were subjected to two high-density conditions (9 and 66 fish/L) during two periods of overlapping sex differentiation of this species (7 to 18 and 18 to 45 days post-fertilization, dpf). Results showed a significant masculinization in the populations of fish subjected to high densities from 18 to 45 dpf. In adulthood, the dnmt1 gene was differentially hypomethylated in ovaries and its expression was significantly downregulated in the testes of fish exposed to high-density. Further, the cyp19a1a gene showed downregulation of gene expression in the ovaries of fish subjected to elevated density, as previously observed in other studies. We proposed dnmt1 as a potential testicular epimarker and the expression of ovarian cyp19a1a as a potential biomarker for predicting stress originated from high densities during the early stages of development. These findings highlight the importance of rearing densities by long-lasting effects in adulthood conveying cautions for stocking protocols in fish hatcheries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Valdivieso
- IHPE, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Marta Caballero-Huertas
- CIRAD, UMR ISEM, 34398 Montpellier, France;
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Javier Moraleda-Prados
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICM-CSIC), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (J.M.-P.); (F.P.)
| | - Francesc Piferrer
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICM-CSIC), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (J.M.-P.); (F.P.)
| | - Laia Ribas
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICM-CSIC), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (J.M.-P.); (F.P.)
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Yostawonkul J, Kitiyodom S, Supchukun K, Thumrongsiri N, Saengkrit N, Pinpimai K, Hajitou A, Thompson KD, Rattanapinyopituk K, Maita M, Kamble MT, Yata T, Pirarat N. Masculinization of Red Tilapia ( Oreochromis spp.) Using 17α-Methyltestosterone-Loaded Alkyl Polyglucosides Integrated into Nanostructured Lipid Carriers. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13081364. [PMID: 37106927 PMCID: PMC10135129 DOI: 10.3390/ani13081364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to optimize a masculinization platform for the production of all-male red tilapia fry by oral administration of 30 and 60 ppm of MT and alkyl polyglucoside nanostructured lipid carriers (APG-NLC) loaded with MT, respectively, for 14 and 21 days. The characterization, encapsulation efficiency and release kinetics of MT in lipid-based nanoparticles were assessed in vitro. The results showed that the MT-loaded nanoparticles were spherical, ranging from 80 to 125 nm in size, and had a negative charge with a narrow particle distribution. The APG-NLC loaded with MT provided higher physical stability and encapsulation efficacy than the NLC. The release rate constants of MT from MT-NLC and MT-APG-NLC were higher than those of free MT, which is insoluble in aqueous media. There was no significant difference in survival between the fish administered MT or the those fed orally with MT-APG-NLC fish. According to the logistic regression analysis, the sex reversal efficacy of MT-APG-NLC (30 ppm) and MT (60 ppm), resulted in significantly higher numbers of males after 21 days of treatment compared with the controls. The production cost of MT-APG-NLC (30 ppm) after 21 days of treatment was reduced by 32.9% compared with the conventional MT treatment group (60 ppm). In all the treatments, the length-weight relationship (LWR) showed negatively allomeric growth behavior (b < 3), with a relative condition factor (Kn) of more than 1. Therefore, MT-APG-NLC (30 ppm) would seem to be a promising, cost-effective way to reduce the dose of MT used for the masculinization of farmed red tilapia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakarwan Yostawonkul
- The International Graduate Course of Veterinary Science and Technology (VST), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
| | - Sirikorn Kitiyodom
- Wildlife, Exotic and Aquatic Animal Pathology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Kittipat Supchukun
- The International Graduate Course of Veterinary Science and Technology (VST), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Nutthanit Thumrongsiri
- National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
| | - Nattika Saengkrit
- National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
| | - Komkiew Pinpimai
- Aquatic Resources Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Amin Hajitou
- Cancer Phagotherapy, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | | | - Kasem Rattanapinyopituk
- Wildlife, Exotic and Aquatic Animal Pathology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Masashi Maita
- Laboratory of Fish Health Management, Department of Marine Biosciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4-5-7, Minato, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
| | - Manoj Tukaram Kamble
- Wildlife, Exotic and Aquatic Animal Pathology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Teerapong Yata
- Unit of Biochemistry, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Nopadon Pirarat
- Wildlife, Exotic and Aquatic Animal Pathology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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Vahabzadeh-Hagh AM, Walsh E, Hamidi V, McCowen K. Voice Outcomes From Direct Vocal Fold Testosterone Injections, a Case Report. Laryngoscope 2023; 133:1211-1213. [PMID: 36594494 DOI: 10.1002/lary.30556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Here we provide the first demonstration of targeted vocal fold testosterone injection to achieve voice masculinization in 2 transgender male patients. Successful voice outcome was achieved in 2-3 weeks, without side effects, and continues to be durable. Laryngoscope, 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Vahabzadeh-Hagh
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Erin Walsh
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Vala Hamidi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of California, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Karen McCowen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of California, La Jolla, California, USA
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Abstract
Endocrine variations, including possibly reduced exposure to androgens, may contribute to the development of male homosexuality, with animal models demonstrating same-sex mate preference with altered exposure during prenatal or early postnatal development. As similar studies in humans are impossible, indirect physical and cognitive measures of androgen exposure are used. Some studies suggest that physical measures affected by prenatal androgens, including the index-to-ring finger ratio, growth indices, and facial structure, are more "feminine" in gay men. Gay men also exhibit significant childhood gender non-conformity and a "feminized" anatomical and functional brain pattern in sexual arousal, as well as domains such as language, visuospatial skills and hemispheric relationships. However, many of these results are equivocal and may be confounded by other factors. Research has also been hampered by inconsistencies in the reporting of sexual orientation and the potentially unrepresentative populations of gay men studied, while additional complexities pertaining to gender conformity and sexual role may also influence results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanouil Tasos
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Amato CM, Yao HHC, Zhao F. One Tool for Many Jobs: Divergent and Conserved Actions of Androgen Signaling in Male Internal Reproductive Tract and External Genitalia. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:910964. [PMID: 35846302 PMCID: PMC9280649 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.910964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the 1940s, Alfred Jost demonstrated the necessity of testicular secretions, particularly androgens, for male internal and external genitalia differentiation. Since then, our knowledge of androgen impacts on differentiation of the male internal (Wolffian duct) and external genitalia (penis) has been drastically expanded upon. Between these two morphologically and functionally distinct organs, divergent signals facilitate the establishment of tissue-specific identities. Conversely, conserved actions of androgen signaling are present in both tissues and are largely responsible for the growth and expansion of the organs. In this review we synthesize the existing knowledge of the cell type-specific, organ specific, and conserved signaling mechanisms of androgens. Mechanistic studies on androgen signaling in the Wolffian duct and male external genitalia have largely been conducted in mouse model organisms. Therefore, the majority of the review is focused on mouse model studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciro M. Amato
- Reproductive Developmental Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Humphrey H-C. Yao
- Reproductive Developmental Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Fei Zhao
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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Nemesházi E, Bókony V. Asymmetrical sex reversal: Does the type of heterogamety predict propensity for sex reversal? Bioessays 2022; 44:e2200039. [PMID: 35543235 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Sex reversal, a mismatch between phenotypic and genetic sex, can be induced by chemical and thermal insults in ectotherms. Therefore, climate change and environmental pollution may increase sex-reversal frequency in wild populations, with wide-ranging implications for sex ratios, population dynamics, and the evolution of sex determination. We propose that reconsidering the half-century old theory "Witschi's rule" should facilitate understanding the differences between species in sex-reversal propensity and thereby predicting their vulnerability to anthropogenic environmental change. The idea is that sex reversal should be asymmetrical: more likely to occur in the homogametic sex, assuming that sex-reversed heterogametic individuals would produce new genotypes with reduced fitness. A review of the existing evidence shows that while sex reversal can be induced in both homogametic and heterogametic individuals, the latter seem to require stronger stimuli in several cases. We provide guidelines for future studies on sex reversal to facilitate data comparability and reliability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edina Nemesházi
- Conservation Genetics Research Group, Department of Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Veronika Bókony
- Conservation Genetics Research Group, Department of Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.,Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
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Dong Z, Chen Y, Li X, Zhang N, Guo Y, Liang YQ, Wang Z. Norethindrone alters growth, sex differentiation and gene expression in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma). Environ Toxicol 2022; 37:1211-1221. [PMID: 35098644 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Norethindrone (NET) is a widely used synthetic progestin, which appears in water environments and threatens aquatic organisms. In this study, marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) larvae were exposed to 7.6 and 80.1 ng/L NET for 190 days. The effects of NET on growth, sex differentiation, gonad histology and transcriptional expression profiles of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis-related genes were determined. The results showed that exposure to 80.1 ng/L NET caused an all-male marine medaka population and significantly decreased the growth of males. Exposure to 7.6 ng/L NET increased the ratio of males/females in the marine medaka population, decreased the growth of males and delayed the ovary maturation in females. However, the sperm maturation was accelerated by 7.6 or 80.1 ng/L NET. In females, the transcription levels of cytochrome P450 aromatase (cyp19a1a) and progesterone receptor (pgr) in ovaries, glucocorticoid receptor (gr) and vitellogenin (vtg) in livers were suppressed after exposure to 7.6 ng/L NET, which may cause delayed ovary maturation. In males, NET significantly decreased the transcription levels of follicle stimulating hormone β (fshβ) and Luteinizing hormone β (lhβ)in the brain, Estrogen receptor β (erβ),gr and pgr in the liver, and vitellogenin receptor (vtgr) in the testes, while NET of 80.1 ng/L led to a significant up-regulation of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (star) in the testes of males. These results showed that NET could influence growth, sex differentiation and gonadal maturation and significantly alter the transcriptional expression levels of HPG axis-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongdian Dong
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Epidemiology for Aquatic Economic Animals, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yuebi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Xueyou Li
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yusong Guo
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yan-Qiu Liang
- Faculty of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Zhongduo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
- State Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University School, Changsha, China
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Mukai K, Hara S, Sakima K, Nozu R, Yazawa T, Kitano T. Oxidative Stress Causes Masculinization of Genetically Female Medaka Without Elevating Cortisol. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:878286. [PMID: 35832427 PMCID: PMC9272773 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.878286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Medaka (Oryzias latipes) is a teleost fish with an XX/XY sex determination system. Sex reversal from female-to-male (masculinization of XX fish) can be induced through cortisol elevation from exposure to environmental stress such as high temperature during sexual differentiation. However, the effects of oxidative stress, generated via metabolic reactions and biological defense mechanisms, on the sexual differentiation of medaka are unclear. Here, we investigated the effect of oxidative stress on medaka sexual differentiation using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which induces oxidative stress in vertebrates. H2O2 treatment from 0 to 5 days post-hatching induced masculinization of wild-type XX medaka, but not of gonadal soma-derived growth factor (gsdf) or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha-a (pparaa) knockout XX fish. Co-treatment with an oxidative stress inhibitor caused masculinization recovery but co-treatment with a cortisol synthesis inhibitor did not. H2O2 treatment significantly upregulated gsdf and pparaa expression in XX medaka. However, H2O2 did not elevate cortisol levels in medaka larvae during sexual differentiation. These results strongly indicate that oxidative stress induces masculinization of XX medaka without causing elevation of cortisol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koki Mukai
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Seiji Hara
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Konosuke Sakima
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Ryo Nozu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Takashi Yazawa
- Department of Biochemistry, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kitano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- International Research Center for Agricultural and Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- *Correspondence: Takeshi Kitano,
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12
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van Eijk L, Zhu D, Couvy-Duchesne B, Strike LT, Lee AJ, Hansell NK, Thompson PM, de Zubicaray GI, McMahon KL, Wright MJ, Zietsch BP. Are Sex Differences in Human Brain Structure Associated With Sex Differences in Behavior? Psychol Sci 2021; 32:1183-1197. [PMID: 34323639 DOI: 10.1177/0956797621996664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
On average, men and women differ in brain structure and behavior, raising the possibility of a link between sex differences in brain and behavior. But women and men are also subject to different societal and cultural norms. We navigated this challenge by investigating variability of sex-differentiated brain structure within each sex. Using data from the Queensland Twin IMaging study (n = 1,040) and Human Connectome Project (n = 1,113), we obtained data-driven measures of individual differences along a male-female dimension for brain and behavior based on average sex differences in brain structure and behavior, respectively. We found a weak association between these brain and behavioral differences, driven by brain size. These brain and behavioral differences were moderately heritable. Our findings suggest that behavioral sex differences are, to some extent, related to sex differences in brain structure but that this is mainly driven by differences in brain size, and causality should be interpreted cautiously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liza van Eijk
- Centre for Psychology and Evolution, School of Psychology, University of Queensland.,Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland.,Australian e-Health Research Centre, CSIRO, Herston, Australia.,Department of Psychology, James Cook University
| | - Dajiang Zhu
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The University of Texas at Arlington
| | | | | | | | | | - Paul M Thompson
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
| | - Greig I de Zubicaray
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology
| | - Katie L McMahon
- Herston Imaging Research Facility and School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology
| | - Margaret J Wright
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland.,Centre for Advanced Imaging, University of Queensland
| | - Brendan P Zietsch
- Centre for Psychology and Evolution, School of Psychology, University of Queensland
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13
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Sharpe RM. Androgens and the masculinization programming window: human-rodent differences. Biochem Soc Trans 2020; 48:1725-35. [PMID: 32779695 DOI: 10.1042/BST20200200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Human male reproductive disorders are common and may have a fetal origin - the testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS) hypothesis. In rats, experimentally induced TDS disorders result from disruption of fetal androgen production/action specifically in the masculinization programming window (MPW). MPW androgen action also programs longer anogenital distance (AGD) in male versus female rats; shorter male AGD is correlated with risk and severity of induced TDS disorders. AGD thus provides a lifelong, calibrated readout of MPW androgen exposure and predicts likelihood of reproductive dysfunction. Pregnant rat exposure to environmental chemicals, notably certain phthalates (e.g. diethyl hexl phthalate, DEHP; dibutyl phthalate, DBP), pesticides or paracetamol, can reduce fetal testis testosterone and AGD and induce TDS disorders, provided exposure includes the MPW. In humans, AGD is longer in males than females and the presumptive MPW is 8-14 weeks' gestation. Some, but not all, epidemiological studies of maternal DEHP (or pesticides) exposure reported shorter AGD in sons, but this occurred at DEHP exposure levels several thousand-fold lower than are effective in rats. In fetal human testis culture/xenografts, DEHP/DBP do not reduce testosterone production, whereas therapeutic paracetamol exposure does. In humans, androgen production in the MPW is controlled differently (human chorionic gonadotrophin-driven) than in rats (paracrine controlled), and other organs (placenta, liver, adrenals) contribute to MPW androgens, essential for normal masculinization, via the 'backdoor pathway'. Consequently, early placental dysfunction, which is affected by maternal lifestyle and diet, and maternal painkiller use, may be more important than environmental chemical exposures in the origin of TDS in humans.
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14
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Kotidis E, Bitsianis S, Galanos-Demiris K, Christidis P, Mantzoros I, Ioannidis O, Foutsitzis V, Pramateftakis MG, Aggelopoulos S. Case Report: A Virilizing Adrenal Oncocytoma. Front Surg 2021; 8:646459. [PMID: 33829037 PMCID: PMC8019906 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2021.646459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A 64-year-old female was admitted to our clinic with a 9-cm-sized adrenal mass. The patient's main symptom was hirsutism, which included thinning scalp hair and excessive hair growth over her torso and arms. Upon investigation, elevated values of testosterone, androsterone D4, and DHEA-S were found. Contrast-enhanced abdominal CT and MRI scans revealed a heterogenous large mass (diameter 9 × 8.5 cm) with focal calcifications, necrotic areas, and a clear distinction from the adjacent structures. The patient underwent a right adrenalectomy. The histological examination of the tumor revealed a borderline adrenocortical oncocytoma. The patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course and was discharged on postoperative day 8. Similar cases reported in the literature are also being reviewed in this case report.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efstathios Kotidis
- Fourth Academic Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stefanos Bitsianis
- Fourth Academic Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Galanos-Demiris
- Fourth Academic Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Christidis
- Fourth Academic Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioannis Mantzoros
- Fourth Academic Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Orestis Ioannidis
- Fourth Academic Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vasilis Foutsitzis
- Fourth Academic Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Manousos George Pramateftakis
- Fourth Academic Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stamatios Aggelopoulos
- Fourth Academic Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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15
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Hirota K, Matsuda-Imai N, Kiuchi T, Katsuma S. Characterization of nuclear localization signal in Ostrinia furnacalis Masculinizer protein. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol 2021; 106:e21768. [PMID: 33644912 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bombyx mori Masculinizer protein (BmMasc) is essential for both masculinization and dosage compensation in B. mori. We previously identified a bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS) of BmMasc and two essential residues (lysine at 274 [K274] and arginine at 275 [R275]) implicated in its function. Sequence comparison showed the presence of putative NLSs in lepidopteran Masc proteins, but their functional properties and critical residues are unknown. Here we characterized a putative NLS of Ostrinia furnacalis Masc (OfMasc) using B. mori ovary-derived BmN-4 cell line. Deletion and alanine scanning mutagenesis revealed that a putative NLS is required for nuclear localization of OfMasc. However, mutations at both K227 and R228, which correspond to K274 and R275 of BmMasc, respectively, do not greatly abolish the NLS activity. Additional mutagenesis analysis revealed that triple mutations at K227, R228, and K240 almost completely inhibited OfMasc nuclear localization. These results suggest that lepidopteran Masc proteins possess a common functional NLS, but the critical residues for its activity are different. Moreover, we examined the masculinizing activity of OfMasc derivatives and found that nuclear localization is not required for the masculinizing activity of OfMasc. The results from our studies indicate that lepidopteran Masc proteins function in the cytoplasm to drive masculinizing cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanako Hirota
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noriko Matsuda-Imai
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Kiuchi
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Susumu Katsuma
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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16
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Nemesházi E, Gál Z, Ujhegyi N, Verebélyi V, Mikó Z, Üveges B, Lefler KK, Jeffries DL, Hoffmann OI, Bókony V. Novel genetic sex markers reveal high frequency of sex reversal in wild populations of the agile frog (Rana dalmatina) associated with anthropogenic land use. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:3607-3621. [PMID: 32799395 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Populations of ectothermic vertebrates are vulnerable to environmental pollution and climate change because certain chemicals and extreme temperatures can cause sex reversal during early ontogeny (i.e. genetically female individuals develop male phenotype or vice versa), which may distort population sex ratios. However, we have troublingly little information on sex reversals in natural populations, due to unavailability of genetic sex markers. Here, we developed a genetic sexing method based on sex-linked single nucleotide polymorphism loci to study the prevalence and fitness consequences of sex reversal in agile frogs (Rana dalmatina). Out of 125 juveniles raised in laboratory without exposure to sex-reversing stimuli, 6 showed male phenotype but female genotype according to our markers. These individuals exhibited several signs of poor physiological condition, suggesting stress-induced sex reversal and inferior fitness prospects. Among 162 adults from 11 wild populations in North-Central Hungary, 20% of phenotypic males had female genotype according to our markers. These individuals occurred more frequently in areas of anthropogenic land use; this association was attributable to agriculture and less strongly to urban land use. Female-to-male sex-reversed adults had similar body mass as normal males. We recorded no events of male-to-female sex reversal either in the laboratory or in the wild. These results support recent suspicions that sex reversal is widespread in nature, and suggest that human-induced environmental changes may contribute to its pervasiveness. Furthermore, our findings indicate that sex reversal is associated with stress and poor health in early life, but sex-reversed individuals surviving to adulthood may participate in breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edina Nemesházi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Gál
- NARIC Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Nikolett Ujhegyi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Viktória Verebélyi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsanett Mikó
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bálint Üveges
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Kinga Katalin Lefler
- Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Institute for Conservation of Natural Resources, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Daniel Lee Jeffries
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Veronika Bókony
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
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17
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Renczés E, Borbélyová V, Steinhardt M, Höpfner T, Stehle T, Ostatníková D, Celec P. The Role of Estrogen in Anxiety-Like Behavior and Memory of Middle-Aged Female Rats. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:570560. [PMID: 33117285 PMCID: PMC7575693 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.570560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging in women is associated with low estrogen, but also with cognitive decline and affective disorders. Whether low estrogen is causally responsible for these behavioral symptoms is not clear. Thus, we aimed to examine the role of estradiol in anxiety-like behavior and memory in rats at middle age. Twelve-month old female rats underwent ovariectomy (OVX) or were treated with 1 mg/kg of letrozole-an aromatase inhibitor. In half of the OVX females, 10 μg/kg of 17β-estradiol was supplemented daily for 4 weeks. Vehicle-treated sham-operated and OVX females served as controls. For behavioral assessment open field, elevated plus maze and novel object recognition tests were performed. Interaction between ovarian condition and additional treatment had the main effect on anxiety-like behavior of rats in the open field test. In comparison to control females, OVX females entered less frequently into the center zone of the open field (p < 0.01) and showed lower novel object discrimination (p = 0.05). However, estradiol-supplemented OVX rats had higher number of center-zone entries (p < 0.01), spent more time in the center zone (p < 0.05), and showed lower thigmotaxis (p < 0.01) when compared to OVX group. None of the hormonal manipulations affected anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze test significantly, but a mild effect of interaction between ovarian condition and treatment was shown (p = 0.05). In conclusion, ovariectomy had slight negative effect on open-field ambulation and short-term recognition memory in middle-aged rats. In addition, a test-specific anxiolytic effect of estradiol supplementation was found. In contrast, letrozole treatment neither affected anxiety-like behavior nor memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emese Renczés
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Veronika Borbélyová
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Manuel Steinhardt
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Tim Höpfner
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Thomas Stehle
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Daniela Ostatníková
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Celec
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
- *Correspondence: Peter Celec
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18
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Chen J, Peng C, Yu Z, Xiao L, Yu Q, Li S, Zhang H, Lin H, Zhang Y. The Administration of Cortisol Induces Female-to-Male Sex Change in the Protogynous Orange-Spotted Grouper, Epinephelus coioides. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:12. [PMID: 32082256 PMCID: PMC7005586 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we injected cortisol into the protogynous orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) to investigate the role of this hormone in sex change. Following injection, we evaluated gonadal changes, serum levels of steroid hormones, and sex-related gene expression during the processes of cortisol-induced sex change and cortisol withdrawal in the orange-spotted grouper. Cortisol treatment caused the degeneration of oocytes and induced sex change in a dose-dependent manner. Over the long-term, we observed a significant increase in serum 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) levels in all cortisol-treated groups, although levels of 17β-estradiol did not change significantly. Consistent with the elevation of serum 11-KT levels, the expression of genes related to testicular development was also significantly up-regulated in the cortisol-treated groups. Based on our results, we propose that cortisol may trigger masculinization by inducing the synthesis of 11-KT and by directly activating the expression of sex-related genes. Furthermore, we found that cortisol-induced sex change was not permanent and could be reversed after the withdrawal of cortisol treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zeshu Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuisheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
- *Correspondence: Shuisheng Li
| | - Haifa Zhang
- Marine Fisheries Development Center of Guangdong Province, Huizhou, China
| | - Haoran Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
- Marine Fisheries Development Center of Guangdong Province, Huizhou, China
- Yong Zhang
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19
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Tan DW, Maybery MT, Ewing L, Tay JX, Eastwood PR, Whitehouse AJO. Sex-specific variation in facial masculinity/femininity associated with autistic traits in the general population. Br J Psychol 2019; 111:723-741. [PMID: 31802492 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Reports linking prenatal testosterone exposure to autistic traits and to a masculinized face structure have motivated research investigating whether autism is associated with facial masculinization. This association has been reported with greater consistency for females than for males, in studies comparing groups with high and low levels of autistic traits. In the present study, we conducted two experiments to examine facial masculinity/femininity in 151 neurotypical adults selected for either low, mid-range, or high levels of autistic traits. In the first experiment, their three-dimensional facial photographs were subjectively rated by 41 raters for masculinity/femininity and were objectively analysed. In the second experiment, we generated 6-face composite images, which were rated by another 36 raters. Across both experiments, findings were consistent for ratings of photographs and composite images. For females, a linear relationship was observed where femininity ratings decreased as a function of higher levels of autistic traits. For males, we found a U-shaped function where males with mid-range levels of traits were rated lowest on masculinity. Objective facial analyses revealed that higher levels of autistic traits were associated with less feminine facial structures in females and less masculine structures in males. These results suggest sex-specific relationships between autistic traits and facial masculinity/femininity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Weiting Tan
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.,Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Murray T Maybery
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Louise Ewing
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.,School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Jia-Xin Tay
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Peter R Eastwood
- Centre for Sleep Science, School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew J O Whitehouse
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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20
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Dy GW, Nolan IT, Hotaling J, Myers JB. Patient reported outcome measures and quality of life assessment in genital gender confirming surgery. Transl Androl Urol 2019; 8:228-240. [PMID: 31380229 DOI: 10.21037/tau.2019.05.04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transgender and gender nonbinary (TGNB) individuals may seek genital gender confirming surgery (GCS) as part of their transition. Outcomes of genital GCS may include gender congruence, sexual functioning and satisfaction, urinary symptoms, aesthetic satisfaction, and overall quality of life, among others. Despite a wide number of studies on results of vaginoplasty, metoidioplasty, phalloplasty, and other genital GCS, data regarding patient reported outcomes are limited. To date, there is no patient reported outcome measure (PROM) validated within the TGNB population to assess subjective outcomes of GCS. In this review, we aim to describe existing tools being utilized to report outcomes following GCS, assessing the merits and limitations of each.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geolani W Dy
- Department of Urology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ian T Nolan
- School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - James Hotaling
- Department of Urology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Jeremy B Myers
- Department of Urology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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21
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Balogh O, Borruat N, Andrea Meier A, Hartnack S, Reichler IM. The influence of spaying and its timing relative to the onset of puberty on urinary and general behaviour in Labrador Retrievers. Reprod Domest Anim 2018; 53:1184-1190. [PMID: 29974985 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Benefits and risks of spaying on the behaviour of female dogs are controversially discussed. Increased aggressiveness and male urinary behaviour were postulated to be the consequence of masculinization after spaying in some female dogs. To investigate if spaying or its timing relative to the onset of puberty may have a masculinization effect, urinary behaviour, that is, frequency of urination, urinary posture and ground scratching after urination were recorded in 58 female Labrador Retrievers during 15 min of a daily walk with their owners. General behaviour of the dogs during the walks was assessed using an owner questionnaire. Data were analysed for age, reproductive status, lifetime of ovary exposure and/or time interval since spaying. Urinary behaviour of intact females (n = 12) and dogs spayed before (n = 17) or after (n = 29) puberty was similar and not influenced by age, lifetime of ovary exposure and/or time interval since spaying. Owners of spayed dogs described more frequent or more intense fear reaction in their animals in response to loud noises, unfamiliar objects approaching on or near the sidewalk, or if they were approached by unknown dogs barking, growling or jumping. In conclusion, we found no evidence of a masculinization effect after spaying on urinary behaviour in female Labrador Retrievers. In contrast to popular belief, gonadectomy did not inevitably result in a behaviourally more stable dog. Extrapolation of our findings from female Labrador Retrievers to other breeds should be performed with caution, as the effect of spaying on behaviour may differ among dog breeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orsolya Balogh
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Natalie Borruat
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Angela Andrea Meier
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sonja Hartnack
- Section of Veterinary Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Iris M Reichler
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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22
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Bókony V, Kövér S, Nemesházi E, Liker A, Székely T. Climate-driven shifts in adult sex ratios via sex reversals: the type of sex determination matters. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 372:rstb.2016.0325. [PMID: 28760766 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex reversals whereby individuals of one genetic sex develop the phenotype of the opposite sex occur in ectothermic vertebrates with genetic sex-determination systems that are sensitive to extreme temperatures during sexual differentiation. Recent rises in global temperatures have led researchers to predict that sex reversals will become more common, resulting in the distortion of many populations' sex ratios. However, it is unclear whether susceptibility to climate-driven sex-ratio shifts depends on the type of sex determination that varies across species. First, we show here using individual-based theoretical models that XX/XY (male-heterogametic) and ZZ/ZW (female-heterogametic) sex-determination systems can respond differentially to temperature-induced sex reversals. Interestingly, the impacts of climate warming on adult sex ratio (ASR) depend on the effects of both genotypic and phenotypic sex on survival and reproduction. Second, we analyse the temporal changes of ASR in natural amphibian populations using data from the literature, and find that ASR shifted towards males in ZZ/ZW species over the past 60 years, but did not change significantly in XX/XY species. Our results highlight the fact that we need a better understanding of the interactions between genetic and environmental sex-determining mechanisms to predict the responses of ectotherms to climate change and the associated extinction risks.This article is part of the themed issue 'Adult sex ratios and reproductive decisions: a critical re-examination of sex differences in human and animal societies'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Bókony
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó út 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szilvia Kövér
- Department of Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Rottenbiller u. 50, 1077 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Edina Nemesházi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó út 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Rottenbiller u. 50, 1077 Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Liker
- Department of Limnology, University of Pannonia, Pf. 158, 8201 Veszprém, Hungary.,MTA-PE Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Pannonia, Pf. 158, 8201 Veszprém, Hungary
| | - Tamás Székely
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
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23
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Sun LX, Teng J, Zhao Y, Li N, Wang H, Ji XS. Gonad Transcriptome Analysis of High-Temperature-Treated Females and High-Temperature-Induced Sex-Reversed Neomales in Nile Tilapia. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E689. [PMID: 29495590 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19030689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 02/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Nowadays, the molecular mechanisms governing TSD (temperature-dependent sex determination) or GSD + TE (genotypic sex determination + temperature effects) remain a mystery in fish. Methods: We developed three all-female families of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), and the family with the highest male ratio after high-temperature treatment was used for transcriptome analysis. Results: First, gonadal histology analysis indicated that the histological morphology of control females (CF) was not significantly different from that of high-temperature-treated females (TF) at various development stages. However, the high-temperature treatment caused a lag of spermatogenesis in high-temperature-induced neomales (IM). Next, we sequenced the transcriptome of CF, TF, and IM Nile tilapia. 79, 11,117, and 11,000 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in the CF–TF, CF–IM, and TF–IM comparisons, respectively, and 44 DEGs showed identical expression changes in the CF–TF and CF–IM comparisons. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that three individuals in CF and three individuals in TF formed a cluster, and three individuals in IM formed a distinct cluster, which confirmed that the gonad transcriptome profile of TF was similar to that of CF and different from that of IM. Finally, six sex-related genes were validated by qRT-PCR. Conclusions: This study identifies a number of genes that may be involved in GSD + TE, which will be useful for investigating the molecular mechanisms of TSD or GSD + TE in fish.
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24
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Abstract
Sex chromosomes can evolve when recombination is halted between a pair of chromosomes, and this can lead to degeneration of the sex-limited chromosome. In the early stages of differentiation sex chromosomes are homomorphic, and even though homomorphic sex chromosomes are very common throughout animals and plants, we know little about the evolutionary forces shaping these types of sex chromosomes. We used DNA- and RNA-Seq data from females and males to explore the sex chromosomes in the female heterogametic willow, Salix viminalis, a species with ancient dioecy but with homomorphic sex chromosomes. We detected no major sex differences in read coverage in the sex determination (SD) region, indicating that the W region has not significantly degenerated. However, single nucleotide polymorphism densities in the SD region are higher in females compared with males, indicating very recent recombination suppression, followed by the accumulation of sex-specific single nucleotide polymorphisms. Interestingly, we identified two female-specific scaffolds that likely represent W-chromosome-specific sequence. We show that genes located in the SD region display a mild excess of male-biased expression in sex-specific tissue, and we use allele-specific gene expression analysis to show that this is the result of masculinization of expression on the Z chromosome rather than degeneration of female-expression on the W chromosome. Together, our results demonstrate that insertion of small DNA fragments and accumulation of sex-biased gene expression can occur before the detectable decay of the sex-limited chromosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Pucholt
- Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alison E Wright
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Lei Liu Conze
- Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Judith E Mank
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sofia Berlin
- Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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25
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Smyth KN, Greene LK, Clutton-Brock T, Drea CM. Androgens predict parasitism in female meerkats: a new perspective on a classic trade-off. Biol Lett 2017; 12:rsbl.2016.0660. [PMID: 28120802 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis posits that androgens in males can be a 'double-edged sword', actively promoting reproductive success, while also negatively impacting health. Because there can be both substantial androgen concentrations in females and significant androgenic variation among them, particularly in species portraying female social dominance over males or intense female-female competition, androgens might also play a role in mediating female health and fitness. We examined this hypothesis in the meerkat (Suricata suricatta), a cooperatively breeding, social carnivoran characterized by aggressively mediated female social dominance and extreme rank-related reproductive skew. Dominant females also have greater androgen concentrations and harbour greater parasite loads than their subordinate counterparts, but the relationship between concurrent androgen concentrations and parasite burdens is unknown. We found that a female's faecal androgen concentrations reliably predicted her concurrent state of endoparasitism irrespective of her social status: parasite species richness and infection by Spirurida nematodes, Oxynema suricattae, Pseudandrya suricattae and coccidia were greater with greater androgen concentrations. Based on gastrointestinal parasite burdens, females appear to experience the same trade-off in the costs and benefits of raised androgens as do the males of many species. This trade-off presumably represents a health cost of sexual selection operating in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra N Smyth
- University Program in Ecology, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, USA .,Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, USA.,Kalahari Research Trust, Kuruman River Reserve, Northern Cape 8467, South Africa
| | - Lydia K Greene
- University Program in Ecology, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, USA.,Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, USA.,Kalahari Research Trust, Kuruman River Reserve, Northern Cape 8467, South Africa
| | - Tim Clutton-Brock
- Kalahari Research Trust, Kuruman River Reserve, Northern Cape 8467, South Africa.,Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.,Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Christine M Drea
- University Program in Ecology, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, USA.,Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, USA.,Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, USA.,Kalahari Research Trust, Kuruman River Reserve, Northern Cape 8467, South Africa
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26
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Mawaribuchi S, Musashijima M, Wada M, Izutsu Y, Kurakata E, Park MK, Takamatsu N, Ito M. Molecular Evolution of Two Distinct dmrt1 Promoters for Germ and Somatic Cells in Vertebrate Gonads. Mol Biol Evol 2017; 34:724-733. [PMID: 27927791 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msw273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor DMRT1 has important functions in two distinct processes, somatic-cell masculinization and germ-cell development in mammals. However, it is unknown whether the functions are conserved during evolution, and what mechanism underlies its expression in the two cell lineages. Our analysis of the Xenopus laevis and Silurana tropicalis dmrt1 genes indicated the presence of two distinct promoters: one upstream of the noncoding first exon (ncEx1), and one within the first intron. In contrast, only the ncEx1-upstream promoter was detected in the dmrt1 gene of the agnathan sand lamprey, which expressed dmrt1 exclusively in the germ cells. In X. laevis, the ncEx1- and exon 2-upstream promoters were predominantly used for germ-cell and somatic-cell transcription, respectively. Importantly, knockdown of the ncEx1-containing transcript led to reduced germ-cell numbers in X. laevis gonads. Intriguingly, two genetically female individuals carrying the knockdown construct developed testicles. Analysis of the reptilian leopard gecko dmrt1 revealed the absence of ncEx1. We propose that dmrt1 regulated germ-cell development in the vertebrate ancestor, then acquired another promoter in its first intron to regulate somatic-cell masculinization during gnathostome evolution. In the common ancestor of reptiles and mammals, only one promoter got function for both the two cell lineages, accompanied with the loss of ncEx1. In addition, we found a conserved noncoding sequence (CNS) in the dmrt1 5'-flanking regions only among amniote species, and two CNSs in the introns among most vertebrates except for agnathans. Finally, we discuss relationships between these CNSs and the promoters of dmrt1 during vertebrate evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuuji Mawaribuchi
- Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences, Kitasato University, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masato Musashijima
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Kitasato University, Minamiku, Sagamihara, Japan
| | - Mikako Wada
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Kitasato University, Minamiku, Sagamihara, Japan
| | - Yumi Izutsu
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Erina Kurakata
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Min Kyun Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Takamatsu
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Kitasato University, Minamiku, Sagamihara, Japan
| | - Michihiko Ito
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Kitasato University, Minamiku, Sagamihara, Japan
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27
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Picut CA, Ziejewski MK, Stanislaus D. Comparative Aspects of Pre- and Postnatal Development of the Male Reproductive System. Birth Defects Res 2017; 110:190-227. [PMID: 29063715 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
This review describes pre- and postnatal development of the male reproductive system in humans and laboratory animals, and highlights species differences in the timing and control of hormonal and morphologic events. Major differences are that the fetal testis is dependent on gonadotropins in humans, but is independent of such in rats; humans have an extended postnatal quiescent period, whereas rats exhibit no quiescence; and events such as secretion by the prostate and seminal vesicles, testicular descent, and the appearance of spermatogonia are all prenatal events in humans, but are postnatal events in rats. Major differences in the timing of the developmental sequence between rats and humans include: gonocyte transformation period (rat: postnatal day 0-9; human: includes gestational week 22 to 9 months of age); masculinization programming window (rat: gestational day 15.5-17.5; human: gestational week 9-14); and mini-puberty (rat: 0-6 hr after birth; human: 3-6 months of age). Endocrine disruptors can cause unique lesions in the prenatal and early postnatal testis; therefore, it is important to consider the differences in the timing of the developmental sequence when designing preclinical studies as identification of windows of sensitivity for endocrine disruption or toxicants will aid in interpretation of results and provide clues to a mode of action. Birth Defects Research 110:190-227, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Picut
- Charles River Laboratories, Pathology Associates, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Mary K Ziejewski
- GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
| | - D Stanislaus
- GlaxoSmithKline Research & Development, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
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28
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Toufaily MH, Roberts DJ, Westgate MN, Hunt AT, Holmes LB. Hypospadias, Intrauterine Growth Restriction, and Abnormalities of the Placenta. Birth Defects Res 2017; 110:122-127. [PMID: 28755466 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypospadias is more common among male infants with growth restriction, defined as a birth weight less than the 10th centile, than in infants with a normal birth weight. Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) has been associated, also, with abnormalities of the placenta, such as maternal vascular malperfusion. In a consecutive sample of newborn infants, the association between hypospadias, IUGR and abnormalities of the placenta could be analyzed. METHODS Affected infants were identified among 289,365 liveborn and stillborn infants in the Active Malformations Surveillance Program between 1972 and 2012. The four anatomic locations of the ectopic urethral opening, based on the recorded physical examination findings, were: (1) glandular; (2) subcoronal; (3) penile; (4) penoscrotal. Affected infants with associated malformations, a chromosome abnormality, teratogenic exposure, maternal diabetes mellitus, or multiple gestations were excluded. RESULTS Three hundred sixteen affected infants were identified: 52.2% glandular, 11.7% subcoronal, 27.8% penile, and 8.2% penoscrotal. The highest frequency of IUGR (34.6%) was in the infants with the most severe hypospadias (penoscrotal). The 39 reports of placenta findings showed a high frequency of abnormalities. CONCLUSION An increased rate of occurrence of hypospadias and abnormalities of the placenta were present in infants with intrauterine growth restriction. The postulated cause of this association is a deficiency in the function of the placenta during weeks 10 to 14 of gestation when normal masculinization occurs due to an increase in the level of placental human chorionic gonadotropin and fetal testosterone. The cause of the placental deficiency has not been established. Birth Defects Research 110:122-127, 2018.© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Hassan Toufaily
- Active Malformations Surveillance Program, Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Medical Genetics Unit, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Drucilla J Roberts
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marie-Noel Westgate
- Active Malformations Surveillance Program, Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Medical Genetics Unit, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Lewis B Holmes
- Active Malformations Surveillance Program, Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Medical Genetics Unit, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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29
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Tsuneoka Y, Tsukahara S, Yoshida S, Takase K, Oda S, Kuroda M, Funato H. Moxd1 Is a Marker for Sexual Dimorphism in the Medial Preoptic Area, Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis and Medial Amygdala. Front Neuroanat 2017; 11:26. [PMID: 28396628 PMCID: PMC5366752 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2017.00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain shows various sex differences in its structures. Various mammalian species exhibit sex differences in the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA) and parts of the extended amygdala such as the principal nucleus of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNSTpr) and posterodorsal part of the medial amygdala (MePD). The SDN-POA and BNSTpr are male-biased sexually dimorphic nuclei, and characterized by the expression of calbindin D-28K (calbindin 1). However, calbindin-immunoreactive cells are not restricted to the SDN-POA, but widely distributed outside of the SDN-POA. To find genes that are more specific to sexually dimorphic nuclei, we selected candidate genes by searching the Allen brain atlas and examined the detailed expressions of the candidate genes using in situ hybridization. We found that the strong expression of monooxygenase DBH-like 1 (Moxd1) was restricted to the SDN-POA, BNSTpr and MePD. The numbers of Moxd1-positive cells in the SDN-POA, BNSTpr and MePD in male mice were larger than those in female mice. Most of the Moxd1-positive cells in the SDN-POA and BNSTpr expressed calbindin. Neonatal castration of male mice reduced the number of Moxd1-positive cells in the SDN-POA, whereas gonadectomy in adulthood did not change the expression of the Moxd1 gene in the SDN-POA in both sexes. These results suggest that the Moxd1 gene is a suitable marker for sexual dimorphic nuclei in the POA, BNST and amygdala, which enables us to manipulate sexually dimorphic neurons to examine their roles in sex-biased physiology and behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousuke Tsuneoka
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Toho University Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinji Tsukahara
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University Saitama, Japan
| | - Sachine Yoshida
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Toho UniversityTokyo, Japan; Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Japan Science and Technology AgencySaitama, Japan
| | - Kenkichi Takase
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Toho UniversityTokyo, Japan; Laboratory of Psychology, Jichi Medical UniversityTochigi, Japan
| | - Satoko Oda
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Toho University Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaru Kuroda
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Toho University Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiromasa Funato
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Toho UniversityTokyo, Japan; International Institutes for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPI-IIIS), University of TsukubaIbaraki, Japan
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30
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Ribas L, Liew WC, Díaz N, Sreenivasan R, Orbán L, Piferrer F. Heat-induced masculinization in domesticated zebrafish is family-specific and yields a set of different gonadal transcriptomes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E941-50. [PMID: 28115725 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1609411114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding environmental influences on sex ratios is important for the study of the evolution of sex-determining mechanisms and for evaluating the effects of global warming and chemical pollution. Fishes exhibit sexual plasticity, but the underlying mechanisms of environmental effects on their reproduction are unclear even in the well-established teleost research model, the zebrafish. Here we established the conditions to study the effects of elevated temperature on zebrafish sex. We showed that sex ratio response to elevated temperature is family-specific and typically leads to masculinization (female-to-male sex reversal), resulting in neomales. These results uncovered genotype-by-environment interactions that support a polygenic sex determination system in domesticated (laboratory) zebrafish. We found that some heat-treated fish had gene expression profiles similar to untreated controls of the same sex, indicating that they were resistant to thermal effects. Further, most neomales had gonadal transcriptomes similar to that of regular males. Strikingly, we discovered heat-treated females that displayed a normal ovarian phenotype but with a "male-like" gonadal transcriptome. Such major transcriptomic reprogramming with preserved organ structure has never been reported. Juveniles were also found to have a male-like transcriptome shortly after exposure to heat. These findings were validated by analyzing the expression of genes and signaling pathways associated with sex differentiation. Our results revealed a lasting thermal effect on zebrafish gonads, suggesting new avenues for detection of functional consequences of elevated temperature in natural fish populations in a global warming scenario.
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31
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Kato M, Hiruta C, Tochinai S. Androgenic Gland Implantation Induces Partial Masculinization in Marmorkrebs Procambarus fallax f. virginalis. Zoolog Sci 2016; 32:459-64. [PMID: 26428724 DOI: 10.2108/zs150028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The androgenic gland in malacostracan crustacean species produces and secretes androgenic gland hormone, which is responsible for male sexual differentiation, such as the induction and development of male sexual traits, and in turn the suppression of female sexual traits. Marmorkrebs, Procambarus fallax forma virginalis, which was identified as the first parthenogenetic species in decapod crustaceans, produces only female offspring. In this study, in order to reveal whether the Marmorkrebs crayfish is sensitive to androgenic gland hormone, we transplanted an androgenic gland from a related congener, P. clarkii, to P. fallax f. virginalis. In androgenic gland-implanted specimens, partial masculinization was confirmed: the masculinization of several external sexual characteristics (i.e., thickening of the first and second pleopods; formation of reverse spines on the third and fourth pereopods) was detected, whereas that of internal sexual characteristics (e.g., the formation of ovotestes and male gonoducts) was not. Our results imply that P. fallaxf. virginalis still has sensitivity to the androgenic gland hormone and, at least partly, the hormone should be able to induce male characteristics, even in parthenogenetic Marmorkrebs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miku Kato
- 1 Department of Natural History Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan
| | - Chizue Hiruta
- 2 Department of Biology, Center for Liberal Arts and Sciences, Iwate Medical University,Nishitokuta 2-1-1, Nishi-Tokuda, Yahaba-cho, Shiwa-gun, Iwate 028-3694, Japan
| | - Shin Tochinai
- 3 Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University,Kita 11, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0811, Japan
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32
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Zhang H, Hao J, Li CY, Li T, Mu YL. Large moderately-differentiated ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor in a 13-year-old female: A case report. Oncol Lett 2016; 11:1110-1112. [PMID: 26893701 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2015.3979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor of the ovary, also known as androblastoma, is a rare neoplasm from the group of sex cord-stromal tumors of the ovary. The tumor accounts for <0.5% of all primary ovarian neoplasms. The clinical signs and symptoms of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors can be associated with either hormonal production or the presence of a mass-occupying lesion. In the current study, a 13-year-old female was diagnosed with a stage Ic ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor following abdominal pain and distension. One month after a right oophorectomy, the follow-up magnetic resonance imaging scan was negative for residual or recurrent tumor. The overall 5-year survival rate for moderately-differentiated (grade 2) and poorly-differentiated (grade 3) Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors is 80%, and long-term follow-up is therefore highly advised in this patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
| | - Jing Hao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
| | - Chun-Yan Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
| | - Tao Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
| | - Yu-Lan Mu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Comprehensive explanations of behavioral adaptations rarely invoke all levels famously admonished by Niko Tinbergen. The role of developmental processes and plasticity, in particular, has often been neglected. In this paper, we combine ecological, physiological and developmental perspectives in developing a hypothesis to account for the evolution of 'the lemur syndrome', a combination of reduced sexual dimorphism, even adult sex ratios, female dominance and mild genital masculinization characterizing group-living species in two families of Malagasy primates. RESULTS We review the different components of the lemur syndrome and compare it with similar adaptations reported for other mammals. We find support for the assertion that the lemur syndrome represents a unique set of integrated behavioral, demographic and morphological traits. We combine existing hypotheses about underlying adaptive function and proximate causation by adding a potential developmental mechanism linking maternal stress and filial masculinization, and outline an evolutionary scenario for its canalization. CONCLUSIONS We propose a new hypothesis linking ecological, physiological, developmental and evolutionary processes to adumbrate a comprehensive explanation for the evolution of the lemur syndrome, whose assumptions and predictions can guide diverse future research on lemurs. This hypothesis should also encourage students of other behavioral phenomena to consider the potential role of developmental plasticity in evolutionary innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Kappeler
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Fichtel
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Matthiessen P, Weltje L. A review of the effects of azole compounds in fish and their possible involvement in masculinization of wild fish populations. Crit Rev Toxicol 2015; 45:453-67. [PMID: 25899164 DOI: 10.3109/10408444.2015.1018409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine-mediated effects in fish populations have been widely documented. Most attention has been focused on feminization caused by estrogenic substances, but this paper reviews evidence for the effects of a group of fungicides and pharmaceuticals, the azoles, which have been reported to cause masculinization in fish. The paper considers information from laboratory studies on the effects of azole compounds on fish endocrinology, and on the potential existence of such effects in wild fish. The occurrence of some azoles in effluents and surface waters has also been briefly reviewed. Under laboratory conditions, many azoles are able to cause masculinization or defeminization in fish by inhibition of the P450 enzyme aromatase (CYP19). However, in no case where such effects have been observed in the field has a link been established with this group of substances. In most instances, other more convincing explanations have been proposed. Peak concentrations of some azoles in surface waters can approach those which, under continuous long-term exposure in the laboratory, might lead to some aromatase inhibition. However, available data on exposure and effects provide reassurance that the concentrations of azoles found in surface waters are too low to cause adverse effects in fish by interference with their endocrine system. Compared to the widespread observations of feminization and estrogenic effects in (male) fish, there are relatively few papers describing masculinization or defeminization in (female) wild fish populations, suggesting that this is quite a rare phenomenon. The significance of this result is emphasized by the fact that fish are among the best studied organisms in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Matthiessen
- Independent Consultant in Ecotoxicology, Old School House , Brow Edge, Backbarrow, Ulverston, Cumbria , UK
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35
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Suzuki K, Numata T, Suzuki H, Raga DD, Ipulan LA, Yokoyama C, Matsushita S, Hamada M, Nakagata N, Nishinakamura R, Kume S, Takahashi S, Yamada G. Sexually dimorphic expression of Mafb regulates masculinization of the embryonic urethral formation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:16407-12. [PMID: 25362053 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1413273111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Masculinization of external genitalia is an essential process in the formation of the male reproductive system. Prominent characteristics of this masculinization are the organ size and the sexual differentiation of the urethra. Although androgen is a pivotal inducer of the masculinization, the regulatory mechanism under the control of androgen is still unknown. Here, we address this longstanding question about how androgen induces masculinization of the embryonic external genitalia through the identification of the v-maf avian musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog B (Mafb) gene. Mafb is expressed prominently in the mesenchyme of male genital tubercle (GT), the anlage of external genitalia. MAFB expression is rarely detected in the mesenchyme of female GTs. However, exposure to exogenous androgen induces its mesenchymal expression in female GTs. Furthermore, MAFB expression is prominently down-regulated in male GTs of androgen receptor (Ar) KO mice, indicating that AR signaling is necessary for its expression. It is revealed that Mafb KO male GTs exhibit defective embryonic urethral formation, giving insight into the common human congenital anomaly hypospadias. However, the size of Mafb KO male GTs is similar with that of wild-type males. Moreover, androgen treatment fails to induce urethral masculinization of the GTs in Mafb KO mice. The current results provide evidence that Mafb is an androgen-inducible, sexually dimorphic regulator of embryonic urethral masculinization.
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36
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Haugen T, Almeida FFL, Andersson E, Bogerd J, Male R, Skaar KS, Schulz RW, Sørhus E, Wijgerde T, Taranger GL. Sex differentiation in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.): morphological and gene expression studies. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2012; 10:47. [PMID: 22709434 PMCID: PMC3433390 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-10-47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2011] [Accepted: 06/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In differentiated gonochoristic species, a bipotential gonad develops into an ovary or testis during sex differentiation. Knowledge about this process is necessary to improve methods for masculinizing genetically female Atlantic cod for the subsequent purpose of producing all-female populations. METHODS Gonads were examined histologically in juveniles from 14 to 39 mm total body length (TL). Number and size of germ cells were determined in a subset of the samples. Relevant genes were cloned, and mRNA levels determined by qPCR of amh, cyp19a1a; dax1 (nr0b2); shp (nr0b2a) and sox9b in a mixed-sex and an all-female population ranging from 12-49 mm TL. RESULTS Individuals between 14-20 mm TL could be separated in two subgroups based on gonad size and germ cell number. Ovarian cavity formation was observed in some individuals from 18-20 mm TL. The mixed sex population displayed bimodal expression patterns as regards cyp19a1a (starting at 12 mm TL) and amh (starting at 20 mm TL) mRNA levels. After approximately 30 mm TL, cyp19a1a and amh displayed a gradual increase in both sexes. No apparent, sex-dependent expression patterns were found for dax1, shp or sox9b transcripts. However, shp levels were high until the larvae reached around 35 mm TL and then dropped to low levels, while dax1 remained low until 35 mm TL, and then increased sharply. CONCLUSIONS The morphological sex differentiation in females commenced between 14-20 mm TL, and ovarian cavities were evident by 18-20 mm TL. Testis development occurred later, and was morphologically evident after 30 mm TL. This pattern was corroborated with sexually dimorphic expression patterns of cyp19a1a from 12-13 mm TL, and a male-specific increase in amh from 20 mm TL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trine Haugen
- Institute of Marine Research, Nordnes, P.O. Box 1870, N-5817, Bergen, Norway
| | - Fernanda FL Almeida
- Utrecht University, Science Faculty, Department of Biology, Padualaan 8, NL-3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Embrapa Western Amazon, Rodovia AM-10, Km 29, PO Box 319, Manaus, AM-Brazil-69010-970, Brazil
| | - Eva Andersson
- Institute of Marine Research, Nordnes, P.O. Box 1870, N-5817, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jan Bogerd
- Utrecht University, Science Faculty, Department of Biology, Padualaan 8, NL-3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rune Male
- University of Bergen, Department of Molecular Biology, HiB, Thormøllensgt. 55, N-5020, Bergen, Norway
| | - Katrine S Skaar
- University of Bergen, Department of Molecular Biology, HiB, Thormøllensgt. 55, N-5020, Bergen, Norway
| | - Rüdiger W Schulz
- Utrecht University, Science Faculty, Department of Biology, Padualaan 8, NL-3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elin Sørhus
- Institute of Marine Research, Nordnes, P.O. Box 1870, N-5817, Bergen, Norway
| | - Tim Wijgerde
- Utrecht University, Science Faculty, Department of Biology, Padualaan 8, NL-3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Geir L Taranger
- Institute of Marine Research, Nordnes, P.O. Box 1870, N-5817, Bergen, Norway
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37
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Abstract
Parental investment can be used as a forecast for the environmental conditions in which offspring will develop to adulthood. In the rat, maternal behavior is transmitted to the next generation through epigenetic modifications such as methylation and histone acetylation, resulting in variations in estrogen receptor alpha expression. Natural variations in maternal care also influence the sexual strategy adult females will adopt later in life. Lower levels of maternal care are associated with early onset of puberty as well as increased motivation to mate and greater receptivity toward males during mating. Lower levels of maternal care are also correlated with greater activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis, responsible for the expression of these behaviors. Contrary to the transition of maternal care, sexual behavior cannot simply be explained by maternal attention, since adoption studies changed the sexual phenotypes of offspring born to low caring mothers but not those from high caring dams. Indeed, mothers showing higher levels of licking/grooming have embryos that are exposed to high testosterone levels during development, and adoption studies suggest that this androgen exposure may protect their offspring from lower levels of maternal care. We propose that in the rat, maternal care and the in utero environment interact to influence the reproductive strategy female offspring display in adulthood and that this favors the species by allowing it to thrive under different environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M Cameron
- Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Psychology and Biology Departments, Binghamton University - State University of New York Binghamton, NY, USA
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38
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Sullivan AW, Hamilton P, Patisaul HB. Neonatal agonism of ERβ impairs male reproductive behavior and attractiveness. Horm Behav 2011; 60:185-94. [PMID: 21554883 PMCID: PMC3126896 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2011] [Revised: 04/19/2011] [Accepted: 04/19/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The organization of the developing male rodent brain is profoundly influenced by endogenous steroids, most notably estrogen. This process may be disrupted by estrogenic endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) resulting in altered sex behavior and the capacity to attract a mate in adulthood. To better understand the relative role each estrogen receptor (ER) subtype (ERα and ERβ) plays in mediating these effects, we exposed male Long Evans rats to estradiol benzoate (EB, 10 μg), vehicle, or agonists specific for ERβ (DPN, 1 mg/kg) or ERα (PPT, 1 mg/kg) daily for the first four days of life, and then assessed adult male reproductive behavior and attractiveness via a partner preference paradigm. DPN had a greater adverse impact than PPT on reproductive behavior, suggesting a functional role for ERβ in the organization of these male-specific behaviors. Therefore the impact of neonatal ERβ agonism was further investigated by repeating the experiment using vehicle, EB and additional DPN doses (0.5 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, and 2 mg/kg bw). Exposure to DPN suppressed male reproductive behavior and attractiveness in a dose dependent manner. Finally, males were exposed to EB or an environmentally relevant dose of genistein (GEN, 10 mg/kg), a naturally occurring xenoestrogen, which has a higher relative binding affinity for ERβ than ERα. Sexual performance was impaired by GEN but not attractiveness. In addition to suppressing reproductive behavior and attractiveness, EB exposure significantly lowered the testis to body weight ratio, and circulating testosterone levels. DPN and GEN exposure only impaired behavior, suggesting that disrupted androgen secretion does not underlie the impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alana W Sullivan
- Department of Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC 27695, USA
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39
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Yeung BH, Wan HT, Law AY, Wong CK. Endocrine disrupting chemicals: Multiple effects on testicular signaling and spermatogenesis. Spermatogenesis 2011; 1:231-239. [PMID: 22319671 PMCID: PMC3271665 DOI: 10.4161/spmg.1.3.18019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2011] [Revised: 09/04/2011] [Accepted: 09/05/2011] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In the past 200 years, an enormous number of synthetic chemicals with diverse structural features have been produced for industrial, medical and domestic purposes. These chemicals, originally thought to have little or no biological toxicity, are widely used in our daily lives as well as are commonly present in foods. It was not until the first World Wildlife Federation Wingspread Conference held in 1994 were concerns about the endocrine disrupting (ED) effects of these chemicals articulated. The potential hazardous effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on human health and ecological well-being are one of the global concerns that affect the health and propagation of human beings. Considerable numbers of studies indicated that endocrine disruption is linked to "the developmental basis of adult disease," highlighting the significant effects of EDC exposure on a developing organism, leading to the propensity of an individual to develop a disease or dysfunction in later life. In this review, we intend to provide environmental, epidemiological and experimental data to associate pollutant exposure with reproductive disorders, in particular on the development and function of the male reproductive system. Possible effects of pollutant exposure on the processes of embryonic development, like sex determination and masculinization are described. In addition, the effects of pollutant exposure on hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis, testicular signaling, steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie Hy Yeung
- Croucher Institute of Environmental Sciences; Department of Biology; Hong Kong Baptist University; Hong Kong
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40
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Lenz KM, Sengelaub DR. Maternal care effects on the development of a sexually dimorphic motor system: the role of spinal oxytocin. Horm Behav 2010; 58:575-81. [PMID: 20688065 PMCID: PMC2934889 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2010] [Revised: 07/09/2010] [Accepted: 07/25/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Maternal licking in rats affects the development of the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB), a sexually dimorphic motor nucleus that controls penile reflexes involved with copulation. Reduced maternal licking results in decreased motoneuron number, size, and dendritic length in the adult SNB, as well as deficits in adult male copulatory behavior. Our previous findings that licking-like tactile stimulation influences SNB dendritic development and upregulates Fos expression in the lumbosacral spinal cord suggest that afferent signaling is changed by differences in maternal stimulation. Oxytocin afferents from the hypothalamus are a possible candidate, given previous research that has shown oxytocin is released following sensory stimulation, oxytocin modulates excitability in the spinal cord, and is a pro-erectile modulator of male sex behavior. In this experiment, we used immunofluorescence and immediate early gene analysis to assess whether licking-like tactile stimulation of the perineum activated parvocellular oxytocinergic neurons in the hypothalamus in neonates. We also used enzyme immunoassay to determine whether this same stroking stimulation produced an increase in spinal oxytocin levels. We found that stroking increased Fos immunolabeling in small oxytocin-positive cells in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, in comparison to unstroked or handled control pups. In addition, 60s of licking-like perineal stimulation produced a transient 89% increase in oxytocin levels in the lumbosacral spinal cord. Together, these results suggest that oxytocin afferent activity may contribute to the effects of early maternal care on the masculinization of the SNB and resultant male copulatory behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M Lenz
- Department of Physiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland-Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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41
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McFadden D, Bracht MS. Sex and race differences in the relative lengths of metacarpals and metatarsals in human skeletons. Early Hum Dev 2009; 85:117-24. [PMID: 18789613 PMCID: PMC2649659 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2008.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2008] [Revised: 06/20/2008] [Accepted: 07/01/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research has revealed that the ratios of the lengths of various pairs of human fingers differ in males and females. METHOD In an attempt to determine whether parallel sex differences also exist in the relative lengths of human metacarpals and metatarsals, the lengths of the metapodials for both hands and both feet were measured in a collection of human skeletons. For each hand and each foot, all of the 10 possible pairwise ratios for length of the five metapodials were calculated. RESULTS For the skeletons of European/Caucasian extraction (Ns=89 males, 50 females), there were substantial sex differences for several of the metacarpal-length ratios, but the pattern was not identical with the pattern previously reported for human fingers. Namely, the largest sex differences were for the three ratios involving metacarpal 5 on the left hand, while the sex difference for the ratio comparing the second and fourth metacarpals (the comparison commonly showing the largest sex difference for fingers) was small and non-significant for both hands in these European-Americans. For the skeletons of African extraction (Ns=65 males, 55 females), no sex differences were found in any of the 20 metacarpal-length ratios. This outcome was unexpected because past research had shown sex differences in finger-length ratios for people of African extraction. For metatarsals, none of the 20 ratios exhibited a substantial sex difference for either group of skeletons. CONCLUSIONS A discrepancy apparently exists between the length ratios based on fingers and those based on metacarpals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis McFadden
- Department of Psychology and Center for Perceptual Systems, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, 78712-0187, USA.
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42
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McFadden D, Pasanen EG, Valero MD, Roberts EK, Lee TM. Effect of prenatal androgens on click-evoked otoacoustic emissions in male and female sheep (Ovis aries). Horm Behav 2009; 55:98-105. [PMID: 18834887 PMCID: PMC2649662 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2008.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2008] [Revised: 07/31/2008] [Accepted: 08/26/2008] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) were measured in male and female Suffolk sheep (Ovis aries). Some sheep had been administered androgens or estrogens during prenatal development, some were gonadectomized after birth, and some were allowed to develop normally. As previously reported for spotted hyenas, gonadectomy did not alter the OAEs for either sex; accordingly, the untreated/intact and the untreated/gonadectomized animals were pooled to form the control groups. The click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs) exhibited by the female control group (N=12) were slightly stronger (effect size=0.42) than those in the male control group (N=15), which is the same direction of effect reported for humans and rhesus monkeys. Females administered testosterone prenatally (N=16) had substantially weaker (masculinized) CEOAEs than control females (effect size=1.15). Both of these outcomes are in accord with the idea that prenatal exposure to androgens weakens the cochlear mechanisms that underlie the production of OAEs. The CEOAEs of males administered testosterone prenatally (N=5) were not different from those of control males, an outcome also seen in similarly treated rhesus monkeys. Males administered dihydrotestosterone (DHT) prenatally (N=3) had slightly stronger (hypo-masculinized) CEOAEs than control males. No spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) were found in any ears, a common finding in non-human species. To our knowledge, this is the first ruminant species measured for OAEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis McFadden
- Department of Psychology and Center for Perceptual Systems, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station A8000, Austin, TX 78712-0187, USA.
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43
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Abstract
The auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) elicited by click stimuli were measured in heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual males and females having normal hearing sensitivity. Estimates of latency and/or amplitude were extracted for nine peaks having latencies of about 2-240 ms, which are presumed to correspond to populations of neurons located from the auditory nerve through auditory cortex. For five of the 19 measures obtained, the mean latency or amplitude for the 57 homosexual and bisexual females was different from that of the 49 heterosexual females in a manner that implies a masculinization of the auditory systems of the homosexual and bisexual females. A similar masculinization effect was previously observed for the otoacoustic emissions generated by the cochlea. For five other measures, the mean latency or amplitude for the 53 homosexual and bisexual males was different from that of the 50 heterosexual males in a manner that implies a hypermasculinization of the auditory systems of the homosexual and bisexual males. Hypermasculinization has been reported recently for other physical characteristics of homosexual males. One parsimonious interpretation of these findings is that homosexual males and females both were exposed to higher than normal levels of androgens at some point(s) in development. Data are reported only for the female subjects not using oral contraceptives because those drugs can masculinize certain AEP measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- D McFadden
- Departments of Psychology and Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Institute for Neuroscience, Mezes Hall 330, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712-1189, USA.
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