Abstract
Female spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) are the only female mammals that lack an external vaginal opening. Mating and birth take place through a urogenital canal that exits at the tip of a hypertrophied clitoris. This 'masculine' phenotype spurred a search for an alternate source of fetal androgens. Although androstenedione from the maternal ovary is readily metabolized to testosterone by the hyena placenta, formation of the penile clitoris and scrotum appear to be largely androgen independent. However, secretions from the fetal testes underlie sex differences in the genitalia and central nervous system that are essential for male reproduction. Naturally circulating androgens, acting prenatally, reduce reproductive success in adult female spotted hyenas. Effects on aggression and dominance might offset these reproductive 'costs' of female androgenization in utero.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 349-356 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2006 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Cite this
Mammalian sexual differentiation : lessons from the spotted hyena. / Glickman, Stephen E.; Cunha, Gerald R.; Drea, Christine M.; Conley, Alan J; Place, Ned J.
In: Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol. 17, No. 9, 11.2006, p. 349-356.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Mammalian sexual differentiation
T2 - lessons from the spotted hyena
AU - Glickman, Stephen E.
AU - Cunha, Gerald R.
AU - Drea, Christine M.
AU - Conley, Alan J
AU - Place, Ned J.
PY - 2006/11
Y1 - 2006/11
N2 - Female spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) are the only female mammals that lack an external vaginal opening. Mating and birth take place through a urogenital canal that exits at the tip of a hypertrophied clitoris. This 'masculine' phenotype spurred a search for an alternate source of fetal androgens. Although androstenedione from the maternal ovary is readily metabolized to testosterone by the hyena placenta, formation of the penile clitoris and scrotum appear to be largely androgen independent. However, secretions from the fetal testes underlie sex differences in the genitalia and central nervous system that are essential for male reproduction. Naturally circulating androgens, acting prenatally, reduce reproductive success in adult female spotted hyenas. Effects on aggression and dominance might offset these reproductive 'costs' of female androgenization in utero.
AB - Female spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) are the only female mammals that lack an external vaginal opening. Mating and birth take place through a urogenital canal that exits at the tip of a hypertrophied clitoris. This 'masculine' phenotype spurred a search for an alternate source of fetal androgens. Although androstenedione from the maternal ovary is readily metabolized to testosterone by the hyena placenta, formation of the penile clitoris and scrotum appear to be largely androgen independent. However, secretions from the fetal testes underlie sex differences in the genitalia and central nervous system that are essential for male reproduction. Naturally circulating androgens, acting prenatally, reduce reproductive success in adult female spotted hyenas. Effects on aggression and dominance might offset these reproductive 'costs' of female androgenization in utero.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33750071728&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33750071728&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tem.2006.09.005
DO - 10.1016/j.tem.2006.09.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 17010637
AN - SCOPUS:33750071728
VL - 17
SP - 349
EP - 356
JO - Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism
SN - 1043-2760
IS - 9
ER -