Testosterone Formation and Metabolism During Male Sexual Differentiation in the Human Embryo
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Key Points
This research aims to understand how testosterone and its metabolites are formed and utilized during male sexual differentiation in human embryos.
Studied 33 human fetuses from undifferentiated stages to sexually differentiated embryos measuring testosterone formation and metabolism.
Used thin-layer and celite column chromatography to quantify metabolic products from gonads incubated with C21 steroids.
Measured testosterone to dihydrotestosterone conversion rates in urogenital tract tissues.
Testosterone is the principal androgen formed by the fetal testis during male differentiation, peaking at 150 pinoles/10 mg tissue/2 hr at 7.1–9 cm development.
Dihydrotestosterone formation is most rapid in urogenital tract tissues, suggesting its role as the effective intracellular androgen for male development.
No testosterone formation was observed in ovaries at any developmental stage.
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Implication
Randomized trial investigates testosterone formation affecting male sexual differentiation in embryos, suggesting critical hormonal roles.