True hermaphroditism with 46,X,+22p/46,XY and gonadal mosaicism detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization

A Japanese girl was diagnosed as true hermaphroditism with 46,X,+mar/46,XY and the marker chromosome was determined on the short arm of chromosome 22 without alpha-satellite by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and spectral karyotyping (SKY) methods. At birth, she showed intersexual external genitalia, urethral-vaginal fistula and right inguinal hernia. The right gonad was revealed as an ovotestis, and the left was as an undifferentiated testis. The gonadal mosaicism was demonstrated directly in gonadal tissue by interphase FISH.     

Analysis and characteristics of multiple types of human 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

Androgens and estrogens are not only synthesized in the gonads but also in peripheral target tissues. Accordingly, recent molecular cloning has allowed us to identify multiple types of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17β-HSD), the key and exclusive enzymes involved in the formation and inactivation of sex steroids. However, only one form, namely, type 3 17β-HSD, is responsible for pseudohermaphroditism in deficient boys. To date, seven human 17β-HSDs have been isolated and characterized. Although they catalyze substrates having a similar structure, 17β-HSDs have very low homology. In intact cells in culture, these enzymes catalyze the reaction in a unidirectional way — types 1, 3, 5 and 7 catalyze the reductive reaction, while types 2, 4 and 8 catalyze the oxidative reaction. It is noteworthy that rat type 6 17β-HSD also catalyzes the reaction in the oxidative direction. In this report, we analyze the different characteristics of the multiple types of human 17β-HSD.     

Sexual Differentiation of the Brain as a Manifestation of Its Plasticity

This review analyzes the published data and authors' own results on the roles of hormones and neurotransmitters in the formation of structural and functional sex-related dimorphism of the brain within the early ontogenesis period. Proof is presented in favor of the concept that classic neurotransmitters function as inductors of nerve cell differentiation in the process of individual development of the brain. Neurochemical mechanisms of the hormone–transmitter interaction in the process of sexual differentiation of the brain within pre- and/or post-natal periods are considered.     

Individual and seasonal variation in fecal testosterone and cortisol levels of wild male tufted capuchin monkeys, Cebus apella nigritus

This study tested the "challenge hypothesis" and rank-based predictions for temporal steroid production in male tufted capuchin monkeys, Cebus apella. Fecal samples (n = 209) collected from six wild males were analyzed for testosterone and cortisol concentration by enzyme immunoassay. The temporal pattern in male steroid production was compared to female sexual activity and rates of male aggression. The top-ranking adult male did not differ from other adult males in testosterone or cortisol concentration. Mean adult testosterone was significantly higher than mean subadult testosterone throughout the year. There was a clear elevation of testosterone and cortisol in both adult and subadult males during the peak of adult female sexual activity after the birth season. In fact, the magnitude of increase in testosterone was higher than predicted for a species with low male-male aggression. However, there was no difference between nonbreeding baseline testosterone levels during the birth season, and the "breeding" baseline of testosterone in males found during asynchronous female sexual activity. Of all behavioral indices examined, the distribution of female-maintained consortships was the best predictor of mean adult male testosterone concentrations. Although in many species, elevated testosterone coincides with increased male-male aggression, in the present study, the sustained high-magnitude increase in steroids during the peak of adult female sexual activity was associated with a relatively low rate of male-male intragroup aggression.     

Endogenous estradiol and testosterone levels are associated with cognitive performance in older women and men

Relatively few studies have investigated the relationship between endogenous sex steroid levels and cognition in older people and the reported results have been inconsistent. A number of experimental hormone replacement studies have suggested that estrogen replacement in older women enhances cognition, especially verbal memory. In contrast, little research has been done focusing on men. In the current study the association between endogenous sex steroids (estradiol and testosterone) and cognition was investigated in 38 healthy older women (mean age 68 years) and 30 healthy older men (mean age 69 years). Five cognitive tests measuring verbal memory, spatial memory, verbal fluency, mental rotation, and susceptibility to interference were administered. Results revealed that in women higher estradiol levels as well as testosterone levels were associated with better verbal memory (paired associates and estradiol; r =.38, P < 0.05; paired associates and testosterone; r =.33, P < 0.05;). Moreover estradiol, but not testosterone was associated with less susceptibility to interference (Stroop color word test; r = -0.34, P < 0.05). In men the only significant association was a negative correlation between testosterone and verbal fluency (r = -0.38, P < 0.05). The associations observed in this small study support the notion that estradiol is protecting verbal memory and possibly also frontal lobe mediated functions in older women. In contrast to the positive findings in women endogenous sex steroids do not appear to be closely linked to better cognition in older men.     

Excretion and measurement of estradiol and progesterone metabolites in the feces and urine of female squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus)

The first objective of the present study was to determine the metabolic form and rate of excretion of ovarian hormone metabolites in the urine and feces of female squirrel monkeys injected with radiolabeled progesterone (Po) and estradiol. The major portion of the urinary metabolites of both hormones was excreted within 16-24 hr post-injection. Estrogen and Po isotopes in feces exhibited an excretion peak at 16 hr post-injection. The majority of recovered radiolabel of both hormones was excreted in feces. Chromatographic separation of fecal extractions indicated that the major estrogen metabolites in feces are in the free as opposed to the conjugated form. The radioactivity and immunoreactivity for estrone and estradiol (E(1) and E(2), respectively) in eluates of fecal samples subjected to celite co-chromatography indicated that both free E(1) and E(2) exist as excretion products in the feces of female squirrel monkeys. The major radioactive peaks for Po metabolites showed peaks in the elution profile at or very near the Po standard, and corresponded with the celite co-chromatography elution profile of Po standard when subjected to enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The second objective was to validate the application of EIA systems to measure fecal metabolites. Reproductive events of one female squirrel monkey across one annual reproductive cycle are described using the endocrine profile generated from fecal steroid assays. Examination of this profile confirmed that longitudinal fecal sampling and steroid hormone metabolite measurement in feces was not only feasible and practical, but accurately detected known reproductive events as well.     

Optimization of the separation of a complex mixture of natural and synthetic anabolic steroids by micellar liquid chromatography

A systematic optimization of the HPLC separation of a complex mixture containing natural and synthetic anabolic steroids by micellar liquid chromatography using a Hypersil (150 mm x 3.0 mm i.d., 5 microm) C18 column and UV detection at 245 nm (exception is made for oxymetolone and danazol which were monitorized at 280 nm) has been carried out. The isocratic micellar mobile phases (from binary to quaternary) consisted of sodium dodecyl sulphate and organic modifiers such as acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, propanol, butanol or pentanol. The effect of the organic modifiers, surfactant concentration, temperature, ionic strength and flow-rate on the separation has been studied. A micellar mobile phase 5% propanol and 40 mM surfactant allowed the separation of 12 steroids out of 14 tested in about 20 min. A bivariant optimization method for the micellar mobile phase propanol-surfactant corroborated the above results.     

Potential mechanisms of avian sex manipulation

The aim of this review is to consider the potential mechanisms birds may use to manipulate the sex of their progeny, and the possible role played by maternal hormones. Over the past few years there has been a surge of reports documenting the ability of birds to overcome the rigid process of chromosomal sex determination. However, while many of these studies leave us in little doubt that mechanisms allowing birds to achieve this feat do exist, we are only left with tantalizing suggestions as to what the precise mechanism or mechanisms may be. The quest to elucidate them is made no easier by the fact that a variety of environmental conditions have been invoked in relation to sex manipulation, and there is no reason to assume that any particular mechanism is conserved among the vast diversity of species that can achieve it. In fact, a number of intriguing proposals have been put forward. We begin by briefly reviewing some of the most recent examples of this phenomenon before highlighting some of the more plausible mechanisms, drawing on recent work from a variety of taxa. In birds, females are the heterogametic sex and so non-Mendelian segregation of the sex chromosomes could conceivably be under maternal control. Another suggestion is that follicles that ultimately give rise to males and females grow at different rates. Alternatively, the female might selectively abort embryos or 'dump lay' eggs of a particular sex, deny certain ova a chance of ovulation, fertilization or zygote formation, or selectively provision eggs so that there is sex-specific embryonic mortality. The ideas outlined in this review provide good starting points for testing the hypotheses both experimentally (behaviourally and physiologically) and theoretically.