Prenatal low-dose methyltestosterone, but not dihydrotestosterone treatment induces penile formation in female mice and guinea pigs.

In this study, we compared the masculinization effects of commonly used androgens methyltestosterone, dihydrotestosterone and testosterone on the induction of penile formation in females. Our results suggested that prenatal treatment with low doses of methyltestosterone, but not same doses of dihydrotestosterone or testosterone could induce penile formation in female mice. The minimum dose of dihydrotestosterone and testosterone for inducing tubular urethral formation in female mice was respectively 50 and 20 times higher than that of methyltestosterone. In vivo methyltestosterone treatment induced more nuclear translocation of androgen receptors in genital tubercles of female mice, affected Wnt signaling gene expressions, and then led to similar patterns of cell proliferation and death in developing genital tubercles to those of control males. We further revealed that low-dose methyltestosterone, but not same dose of dihydrotestosterone or testosterone treatment induced penile formation in female guinea pigs. Exposure of organ culture to methyltestosterone, dihydrotestosterone or testosterone could induce nuclear translocation of androgen receptors in genital tubercle of female mouse suggested the differential effect of the three androgens in vivo might be due to the hormonal profile in mother or fetus, rather than the local genital tissue. To understand the differential role of these androgens in masculinization process involved is fundamental to androgen replacement therap...
Source: Biology of Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tags: Biol Reprod Source Type: research