Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Hypospadias and Genital Development pp 243–253Cite as

Masculinization of Female Mammals: Lessons from Nature

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 545))

Abstract

Conventional understanding of mammalian sexual differentiation, first proposed by Alfred Jost in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, requires the presence of androgens acting during a critical stage of fetal (or neonatal) life for normal development of the masculine penis and scrotum from embryonic primordia (Jost, 1953; Wilson et al., 1981). Postnatally, a marked acceleration in growth of the penis is typically associated with increased secretion of androgen during puberty (at least in primates).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Arnold, A.P., 1996, Genetically triggered sexual differentiation of brain and behavior.Hormones and Behavior30: 495–505.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beach, F.A. and Levinson, 1950, Effects of androgen on the glans penis and mating behavior of castrated rats.Journal of Experimental Zoology114: 159–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beolchini, F., Rebecchi, L., Capanna, E., and Bertolani, R., 2000, Female gonad of moles, genusTalpa(Insectivora, Mammalia): ovary or ovotestis?.Journal of Experimental Zoology,286:745–754.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carruth, L. L., ReisenI.and Arnold, A. P., 2002, Sex chromosome genes directly affect brain differentiation. Nature Neuroscience, 5: 933–934.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Conte, F. A., Grumbach, M. M., Ito, F., Fisher, C. R., and Simpson, E. R., 1994, A syndrome of female pseudohermaphroditism, hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, and mulitcystic ovaries associated with mis-sense mutations in the gene encoding aromatase (P450arom).Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism78: 1287–1292.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cunha, G. R., Wang,Y., Place, N. J., Lui, W., Baskin, L. S., and Glickman, S.E., in press, The urogenital system of the female spotted hyena(Crocuta crocuta):A functional histological study.Journal of Morphology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deanesly, R., 1966, Observations on reproduction in the moleTalpa europaea.InComparative biology of reproduction in mammals, Vol 15 pp 387–402 Ed IW Rowlands. Academic Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drea, C.M.Weldele, M. L., Forger, N. G., Coscia, E.M.Frank, L. G., Licht, P., and Glickman, S. E., 1998, Androgens and masculinization of genitalia in the spotted hyaena(Crocuta Crocuta).2. effects of prenatal anti-androgens.Journal of Reproduction and Fertility,113:117–127.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drea, C. M., Place, N. J., Weldele, M. L., Coscia, E. M., Licht, P., and Glickman, S. E., 2002, Exposure to naturally circulating androgens in foetal life incurs direct reproductive costs in female spotted hyaenas, but is prerequisite for male mating.Proceedings of the Royal Society London B 269: 1981–1987.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • East, M. L., Hofer, H. and Wickler, W., 1993, The erect “penis” is a flag of submission in a female-dominated society: greetings in Serengeti spotted hyaenas.Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology33: 335–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forger, N. G., Frank, L. G., Breedlove, S. M., and Glickman, S. E.,1996, Sexual dimorphism of perineal muscles and motoneurons in spotted hyenas.The Journal of Comparative Neurology 375 :333–343.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frank, L. G., 1986a, Social organisation of the spotted hyaena(Crocuta crocuta). I.DemographyAnimal Behaviour, 34: 1500–1509.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frank, L. G., 1986b, Social organisation of the spotted hyaena(Crocuta crocuta). II.Dominance and reproductionAnimal Behaviour,34:1510–1527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frank, L. G. and Glickman, S. E., 1994, Giving birth through a penile clitoris: Parturition and dystocia in the spotted hyaena(Crocuta crocuta). Journal of Zoology London234: 659–665.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank, L. G., Glickman, S. E., and Powch, L, 1990, Sexual dimorphism in the spotted hyaena(Crocuta crocuta). Journal of Zoology London221: 308–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank, L. G., Weldele, M. L., and Glickman, S.E., 1995 Masculinization costs in hyaenas.Nature377: 584–585.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Glickman, S. E., Frank, L. G., Pavgi, S., and Licht, P., 1992, Hormonal correlates of ‘masculinization’ in female spotted hyaenas(Crocuta crocuta).I. Infancy to sexual maturity.Journal of Reproduction and Fertility,95:451–462.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Glickman. S. E., Coscia, E. M., Frank, L. G., Licht,P., Weldele, M. L., and Drea, C. M., 1998, Androgens and masculinization of genitalia in the spotted hyaena(Crocuta crocuta).3. Effects of juvenile gonadectomy.Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 113: 129–135.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gorman, M. L. and Stone, R. D., 1990The natural history of moles. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca. Godet, R., 1946, Biologie experimentale - modifications de l’organogen¨¨se des voies urogénitales des embryons de taupes (Talpa europæa L), par action du propionate de testostérone. Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires Des Seances De L Academie Des Sciences 222: 1526–1527.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, W. C. O., 1958, External genitalia.Prinatologia3: 630–704.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez, R., Burgos, M., Sanchez, A., Sinclair, A. H., Alacron, F. J., Marin, J.J.Ortega, E., and Diaz de la Guardia, R., 1993, Fertile females of the moleTalpa occidentalisare phenotypic intersexes with ovotestes.Development,118:1303–1311.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez, R., Alacron, F. J., Sanchez, A., Burgos, M., and Diaz de la Guardia, R., 1996, Ovotestis variability in young and adult females of the moleTalpa occidentalis(Insectivora, Mammalia).Journal of Experimental Zoology,274:130–137.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jost, A., 1953, Problems of fetal endocrinology: the gonadal and hypophyseal hormones.Recent Progress in Hormone Research8: 379–418.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruuk, H., 1972The spotted hyena.University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Licht, P., Frank, L. G., Pavgi, S., Yalcinkaya, T. M., Siiteri, P. K., and Glickman, S. E., 1992, Hormonal correlates of ‘masculinization’ in female spotted hyaena(Crocuta crocuta).2. Maternal and fetal steroids.Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 95: 463–74.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Licht, P., Hayes, T., Tsai, P., Cunha, G., Kim, H., Golbus, M., Hayward, S., Martin, M., Jaffe, R. B., and Glickman,S. E., 1998, Androgens and masculinization of genitalia in the spotted hyaena(Crocuta (rocuta).1. Urogenital morphology and placental androgen production during fetallife.Journal of Reproduction and Fertility,113: 105–116.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lindeque, M., Skinner, J. D., and Millar, R. P., 1986, Adrenal and gonadal contribution to circulating androgens in spotted hyaenas(Crocuta crocuta)as revealed by LHRH, hCG, and ACTH stimulation.Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 78: 211–217.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, L. H., 1935, The oestrous cycle and intersexuality in the female mole(Talpa europaeaLinn.).Proceedings of the Zoological Society,London Series2, 1935: 347–383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, L. H., 1939, Reproduction of the spotted hyaena(Crocuta crocutaErxleben).Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society,London Ser B, 230: I-78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills, M. G. L., 1990Kalahari hyaenas: Comparative behavioural ecology of two speciesUnwin-Hyman, London.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mossman, H. W. and Duke, K. L.1973 Comparative morphology of the mammalian ovary University of Wisconsin Press, Madison.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neaves, W. B., Griffin, J. E., and Wilson, J. D.,1980, Sexual dimorphism of the phallus in spotted hyaena(Crocuta crocuta). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility59: 509–513.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pask, A., and Renfree, M. B. 2001, Sex determining genes and sexual differentiation in a marsupialJournal of Experimental Zoology290: 586–596.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rubenstein, N., Cunha, G., Wang, Y. Z., Campbell, K., Conley, A. J., Catania, K. C., Glickman, S. E., and Place, N. J. 2004, Variation in ovarian morphology in four species of New World moles with a peniform clitoris.Reproduction(in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sachs, B. D., Glater, G. B., and O’Hanlon, J. K., 1984,11111, Morphology of the erect glans penis in rats under various gonadal conditionsAnatomical Record2,10: 45–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez, A., Bullejos, M., Burgos, M., Hera, C., Stomatopoulos, C., Diaz de la Guardia, R., and Jimenez, R., 1996, Females of four mole species of the genusTalpa(Insectivora, Marnnalia) are true hermaphrodites with ovotestes.Molecular Reproduction and Development, 44: 289–294.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whitworth, D. J., Licht, P., Racey,P. A. and Glickman, S. E., 1999, Testis-like steroidogenesis in the ovotestis of the European moleTalpa europaea. Biology of Reproduction60: 413–418.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, J. D., George, F. W., and Griffin, J. E., 1981, The hormonal control of sexual development.Science211: 1278–1284.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wislocki, G. B.,1936, The external genitalia of the simian primates.Human Biology8: 309–347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yalcinkaya, T. M., Siiteri,P. K., Vigne, J-L., Licht,P., Pavgi, S., Frank, L. G. and Glickman, S.E., 1993, A mechanism for virilization of female spotted hyenasin utero. Science260: 1929–1931.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-1650

    Ned J. Place & Stephen E. Glickman

  2. Spotted Hyena Project, Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, 3210 Tolman #1650, CA, 94720-1650

    Ned J. Place

Authors
  1. Ned J. Place
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stephen E. Glickman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

    Laurence S. Baskin

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2004 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this paper

Cite this paper

Place, N.J., Glickman, S.E. (2004). Masculinization of Female Mammals: Lessons from Nature. In: Baskin, L.S. (eds) Hypospadias and Genital Development. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 545. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8995-6_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8995-6_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-4752-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-8995-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation