HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by PERRY, B. N. Articles by MACFIE, H. J. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by PERRY, B. N. Articles by MACFIE, H. J. H.

The roles of androgen and oestrogen in the perinatal and postpubertal stages of developmen on the masculinization of female patterns of growth have been investigated in several experi ments in rats.

A stimulatory effect of testosterone on subsequent growth and efficiency of food utilization was only observed when administered perinatally to intact females as the propionate ester. Thus females which were untreated (or androgenized) perinatally and ovariectomized at weaning failed to grow more rapidly or utilize food more efficiently when treated with mixed testosterone esters from 36 to 38 days of age. Also autoimmunity to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH) had little effect on the growth or efficiency of food utilization of male rats, although testicular development was grossly affected.

An inhibitory effect of oestrogen on subsequent growth and efficiency of food utilization was demonstrated by surgical ovariectomy and by autoimmunity to LH-RH. Also perinatal administration of oestradiol benzoate to intact female rats depressed growth below that of untreated intact litter-mate females until about 50 days of age. Then oestradiol benzoate-treated female rats grew to a larger size than untreated intact litter-mates but not to a heavier weight than untreated litter-mate females which like the oestradiol benzoate-treated females, were ovariectomized at 18–21 days of age. Both of these groups of female rats differed markedly in weight gain from females which were perinatally androgenized and ovariectomized at weaning. The effects of androgenization and ovariectomy on weight gain were comparable and additive in female rats fed restrictedly or ad libitum.

Nevertheless, androgenized + ovariectomized female rats fed restrictedly or ad libitum failed to grow as rapidly as male rats. Some additional factor(s) prevents complete masculinization of the female pattern of development. The stimulatory effects of androgenization and ovariectomy on the growth of females appear to be related to endocrine mechanisms controlling the onset of pubertal changes in somatic development.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				I. N.H. White, P. Carthew, R. Davies, J. Styles, K. Brown, J. E. Brown, L. L. Smith, and E. A. Martin Short-term dosing of {{alpha}}-hydroxytamoxifen results in DNA damage but does not lead to liver tumours in female Wistar/Han rats Carcinogenesis, April 1, 2001; 22(4): 553 - 557. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Klotz, H. J. Hacker, D. Klingmuller, P. Bannasch, U. Pfeifer, and F. Dombrowski Hepatocellular Alterations after Intraportal Transplantation of Ovarian Tissue in Ovariectomized Rats Am. J. Pathol., May 1, 2000; 156(5): 1613 - 1626. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. MacLusky and F Naftolin Sexual differentiation of the central nervous system Science, March 20, 1981; 211(4488): 1294 - 1302. [Abstract]