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At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Androgens and masculinization of genitalia in the spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta). 2. Effects of prenatal anti-androgens.

Pregnant spotted hyaenas were treated with anti-androgens to interfere with the unusually masculine 'phallic' development that characterizes females of this species. The effects on genital morphology and plasma androgen concentrations of infants were studied during the first 6 months of life. Although there were consistent 'feminizing' effects of prenatal anti-androgen treatment on genital morphology in both sexes, such exposure did not produce males with extreme hypospadia, as it does in other species, nor did it produce females with a 'typical' mammalian clitoris and external vagina. 'Feminization' of males resulted in a penis with the morphological features of the hyaena clitoris, and 'feminization' of females exaggerated the sex differences that are typical of this species. The effects of treatment were present at birth and persisted for at least 6 months. Treatment of pregnant females with flutamide and finasteride also markedly reduced circulating concentrations of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in maternal plasma during pregnancy. Plasma delta 4-androstenedione was reduced in the female, but not the male, infants of treated mothers, consistent with an epigenetic hypothesis previously advanced to explain hormonal 'masculinization' of females. The present 'feminizing' effects of prenatal anti-androgen treatment are consistent with contemporary understanding of sexual differentiation, which accounts for morphological variation between the sexes in terms of steroids. However, current theory does not account for the basic genital structure of females and the present data suggest that development of the male penis and scrotum, and the female clitoris and pseudoscrotum, in spotted hyaenas may involve both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent components.

5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors↗
PubMed1989

A dual role of growth hormone as a feminizing and masculinizing factor in the control of sex-specific cytochrome P-450 isozymes in rat liver.

The effects of GH on the major constitutive sex-specific forms of cytochrome P-450 (P-45015 beta and P-45016 alpha) were studied in hypophysectomized rats at the mRNA level. Time-course experiments were performed with or without simultaneous treatment with thyroxine and cortisol. Intermittent administration of GH, mimicking the male secretory pattern, caused complete masculinization of the male specific P-45016 alpha at a pretranslational level in the absence and presence of thyroxine and cortisol. When GH was administered continuously, mimicking the female secretory pattern, the female specific P-45015 beta was induced, an effect that was dramatically potentiated by simultaneous treatment with thyroxine and cortisol. A synergistic effect of thyroxine and cortisol at a pretranslational level was demonstrated, although the major potentiating effect could be attributed to thyroxine. Thus it was concluded that GH, depending on its secretory pattern is the sole masculinizing factor for cytochrome P-450, and that it is also a feminizing factor, although this activity requires the synergistic action of thyroid hormones and glucocorticoids to reach its full effect.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Oriental approaches to masculine and feminine subtle energy principles.

According to ancient Indian and Chinese texts the subtle energy (prana or chi) flows through several thousand anatomically indistinguishable channels or meridians (nadis). Three channels are especially important (ida, pingala, and sushumna). The ida and pingala channels correlate with left and right uninostril breathing, respectively. Like yin and yang, they are considered to represent the masculine and feminine principles present in all creation irrespective of sex. From this perspective these principles are assumed to be present simultaneously in persons of both sexes. This suggests that any sex-specific effects of uninostril breathing may be associated with sex-based physiological differences, not with 'masculine' and 'feminine' attributes of the channels (and the corresponding nostrils).

Asian People↗
PubMed1995

Husbands' involvement in housework: effects of relative earning power and masculine orientation.

A survey of 138 husbands in dual-earner households examined factors influencing participation in two household tasks, cleaning and cooking. Path analyses showed that husbands were more involved in these tasks if they had a nontraditional view of masculinity and if they perceived little conflict between their work and family life. Also, the greater the wives' contribution to family income, the greater the husbands' participation in cleaning and cooking. Finally, a traditional view of masculinity tended to decrease involvement in household tasks by increasing the perception of conflict between work and home life.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[A case of adrenocortical carcinoma with masculinization, obtaining long prognosis with surgical treatment alone].

A 28 year-old woman presented right upper abdominal pain. She had been pointed out her masculinization and amenorrhea. CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging showed right adrenal tumor. In the endocrinological study, the serum cortisol and testosterone was elevated. Transabdominal right adrenalectomy and nephrectomy was carried out and histopathological diagnosis was adrenocortical carcinoma. The masculine symptom had disappeared after the operation and she has been without recurrence for five years.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗
PubMed2002

[Masculinity and vulnerability to HIV among heterosexual men in São Paulo, Brazil].

OBJECTIVE: To identify aspects of masculinity that could be associated with vulnerability to HIV among heterosexual men. METHODS: A qualitative survey was conducted among bus drivers and members of the Work Accident Prevention Committee of a public transportation company in São Paulo city, Brazil. Ten individual interviews and four safe sex workshops were tape-recorded and transcribed, and their contents were categorized and discussed in thematic blocks: sexuality, infidelity, condom use, and sexually transmitted diseases and Aids. RESULTS: Aspects that make heterosexual men more vulnerable to HIV are as follows: feeling strong and immune to disease; engaging in impetuous, risky behaviors; inability of refusing a woman; belief that men need sex more than women do and that their sexual desire cannot be controlled. Men's infidelity is considered a natural behavior while women's infidelity is a result of to her partner's inaptitude. It's up to men to make the decision of using or not condom and women can only ask them to use it in order to avoid pregnancy. The refusal to use condoms is related to: aesthetical and economical reasons, fear of failing erection, loss of sensibility for both men and women. Interviewees do not consider themselves vulnerable to either HIV or STDs and have little knowledge about the modes of infection. CONCLUSIONS: An aspect that favors prevention in this population men are expected to be responsible and good providers for their families. Thus condom use could be advocated as a contraceptive method and to avoid "bringing diseases home". It is important to know the different conceptions of masculinity to be able to intervene as they are related to increased vulnerability to HIV and could lead a way to better promoting prevention in this population.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[The meanings of masculinity, sexuality, power and violence among adolescents].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze perceived meanings of masculinity and power related to sexual violence among adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A qualitative study was carried out between 1998 and 2000 in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Mexico, among 155 junior high and high school male/female students. Information was collected from 12 focal groups in two-hour sessions. Data collection instruments included: interviews, observation, and instruction guides. Data were recorded using notes and tape recordings. Oral and written information was transcribed, categorized, and coded, in order to construct matrixes and interpret results. RESULTS: Symbolic explanatory concepts related with rape included: constructivism vs. naturalism, heteronomous moral posture, and early exchange towards respect and human rights. Females were perceived as the real and potential victims. Males were perceived as violent by nature or under challenge, and prone to be victimized only if they were children, unmanly, or homosexual. Analysis objects included motives, power, female refusal, accusation, consequences, management, and prevention. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual violence is symbolized within the realm of explanatory and moral controversy. The ideological values of masculinity legitimate both legal and judiciary impunity. Social meanings and adolescent participation should be considered in research and interventions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Masculinity, femininity, and sex role attitudes in early adolescence: exploring gender intensification.

This longitudinal study of 200 young adolescent girls and boys (mean age 11.6 years in sixth grade) investigated the hypothesis that differences in masculinity, femininity, and sex role attitudes would intensify across the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades (between 11 and 13 years of age) and that pubertal timing (early, on time, late) would play a role in this intensification. Analyses revealed that sex differences in masculinity and sex role attitudes increased across grades, but not sex differences in femininity. Pubertal timing was not associated with this gender divergence, although the evidence is equivocal for boys. The results provide support for gender intensification, but the role of pubertal timing may not be as strong as previously supposed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Masculinity-femininity scale of the MMPI and intellectual functioning of female addicts.

In a group of 85 female chronic alcoholics and other addicts, scores on the Raven's Matrices and on a multiple-choice version of WAIS Vocabulary were found unrelated to the 13 standard and 4 MMPI research scales and 3 MMPI indices (average profile elevation, average elevations of the neurotic and the psychotic triad) except for the relationship of the raw scores (r = -.32) and the IQ equivalents (r = -.30) on the Vocabulary test to Masculinity-Femininity scores and of IQ equivalents on the Matrices to Barron's Ego Strength scale (r = .32): Women with more extensive vocabulary scored lower on the Masculinity-Femininity scale, and women with better visuo-spatial reasoning skills obtained higher Ego Strength scores.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Additional findings on heritability and prenatal masculinization of cochlear mechanisms: click-evoked otoacoustic emissions.

A previous demonstration of a substantial genetic contribution to the expression of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) is here extended to an aspect of click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs). CEOAEs were measured in the same twins and non-twins used for the SOAE heritability study. The stimuli were 100-microsecond clicks presented a nominal rate of 2/s; the emitted waveforms from 50 clicks were summed, and a 20-ms sample of that averaged waveform (beginning 6 ms after click presentation) was subjected to spectral analysis. The total power in the spectrum from 1 to 5 kHz in this temporal segment of the CEOAE waveform was used as the primary dependent variable. This overall power was significantly greater in female and right ears than in male and left ears, but the difference between dark- and light-eyed subjects was not significant. The overall power in the two left, and two right, ears of monozygotic co-twins was more highly correlated than in dizygotic co-twins, and structural modeling indicated that about 65-85% of the individual variation in the expression of CEOAE power could be attributed to genes-essentially the same heritability estimate as obtained previously from the SOAE data. Within-subject correlations between CEOAE power and number of SOAEs ranged from about 0.3 to 0.7, suggesting that these two forms of otoacoustic emission may depend upon somewhat different aspects of the same underlying mechanism and, thus, that heritability estimates based on one measure are not completely redundant to those from the other. While the average spectral power of the CEOAEs in opposite-sex dizygotic (OSDZ) females was smaller than that in same-sex dizygotic (SSDZ) females- and thus approached the value for males-the difference did not achieve statistical significance. Thus, the evidence for a prenatal masculinizing effect was less definitive in these CEOAE data than in the SOAE data obtained from the same subjects. An interpretation that accounts for both the CEOAE and SOAE results is that the strength of the so-called cochlear amplifiers is under genetic control that is to some extent mediated and/or modified through prenatal exposure to androgens. The indicated direction of effect is that weak cochlear amplifiers result when prenatal androgen levels are high. Under this view, then, androgen level contribute both to the sex differences observed in otoacoustic emissions and the prenatal masculinizing effects observed in opposite-sex twins, and they may be a factor in individual differences in OAE expression as well. Additionally it is shown that, although the powers of the CEOAE waveforms were reasonably highly correlated for the two ears of subjects in all groups, and across MZ co-twins, cross-correlations on the fine structures of those same pairs of CEOAE waveforms were essentially zero-presumably owing largely to the synchronizing of (different) SOAE frequencies in the ears being compared.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1997

The anterior sagittal transanorectal approach: a modified approach to 1-stage clitoral vaginoplasty in severely masculinized female pseudohermaphrodites--preliminary results.

PURPOSE: We present a modified 1-stage clitoral vaginoplasty technique for severely masculinized female pseudohermaphroditism involving an anterior sagittal transanorectal approach with the patient prone after clitoroplasty according to the Passerini-Glazel procedure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An anterior sagittal transanorectal approach with protective colostomy was performed in 2 patients with severely masculinized female pseudohermaphroditism and a normal rectum. The anorectal sphincteric mechanism was divided only in the anterior midline, and the perineal body and rectum were opened in the anterior rectal wall, providing excellent exposure of the urogenital sinus. The vagina was easily and fully separated from the urogenital sinus, the site of vaginal attachment to the urethra was sutured, and anastomosis was created between the vaginal neo-introitus and vagina. The rectum, perineal body and anterior sphincteric mechanism were reconstructed. RESULTS: Cosmetic and anatomical results are satisfactory. The vaginal neo-introitus is located just below the urethral meatus, the clitoris appears almost normal and in the vulvar region a mucous lining is present in the front wall of the perineum between the clitoris and vagina. Convalescence was uneventful. The patients had normal bowel control after colostomy closure and no urinary incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: Our modified technique favors easy and safe posterior anastomosis between the vaginal neo-introitus and vagina under direct vision. Furthermore, suturing the vaginal stump is easier than in the original technique, since the approach to the vagina is posterior, not transvesical.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1993

Male perceptions of female attractiveness: the effects of targets' personal attributes and subjects' degree of masculinity.

This study examined the relationship between the degree of sexist beliefs held toward women by male subjects and their perceptions of attractiveness of females described as possessing either masculine or feminine personality characteristics. One hundred twenty-two undergraduate males were given the Macho Scale, the Auburn University Personal Behavior Summary, a biodata sheet, and were asked to judge previously rated photographs of women along a dimension of attractiveness. Results demonstrated that males perceived physically unattractive and average females described as affectionate and compassionate as more attractive than similarly rated females described as independent and assertive. High Macho subjects viewed females as less attractive than low Macho subjects. Physical attractiveness of the male subjects was largely unrelated to their ratings of the females.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Male sex drive and the masculinization of the genome.

Charles Darwin remarked that "males, with their superior strength, pugnacity, armaments, unwieldly passion and love songs, are almost always the more active and most often, the initiators of sexual interactions". Here, we propose that such male sex drive directly impacts the genome by leading to its progressive masculinization--genes that possess sex-specific effects on male fitness accumulate to a much greater extent and are generally more diverged. The larger proportion of male versus female fitness modifiers in combination with stronger sexual selection may generate evolutionary signatures such as a greater sensitivity to male sterility and a paucity of X-linked male-specific genes. Male sex-drive theory complements the female-choice theory of sexual selection and allows for the genetic variation of costly sexual traits to be continuously replenished.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Maternal contributions to the development of masculine sexual behavior in laboratory rats.

Maternal licking was manipulated by lining the nasal passages of rat dams with polyethylene tubing to interfere with their olfactory competence. Olfactory cues from pups elicit maternal licking and handling, particularly of anogenital regions, and dams with olfactory deficits were observed to lick their pups less. Mature male and female offspring of these dams and their controls were gonadectomized, treated with testosterone propionate, and tested for masculine sexual behavior. The male offspring of dams that provided less maternal licking had longer ejaculatory latencies, longer post-ejaculatory intromission latencies, and longer inter-intromission intervals than controls. Female offspring of the intubed dams performed fewer mounts and intromissions, had longer intromission latencies, and longer inter-intromission intervals. It was concluded that stimulation from maternal licking contributes toward the development of a mechanism that underlies the timing of copulatory rate.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Extragenic suppressors of a dominant masculinizing her-1 mutation in C. elegans identify two new genes that affect sex determination in different ways.

SUMMARY: The her-1 regulatory switch gene in C. elegans sex determination is normally active in XO animals, resulting in male development, and inactive in XX animals, allowing hermaphrodite development. The her-1(n695gf) mutation results in the incomplete transformation of XX animals into phenotypic males. We describe four extragenic mutations that suppress the masculinized phenotype of her-1(n695gf) XX. They define two previously undescribed genes, sup-26 and sup-27. All four mutations exhibit semidominance of suppression and by themselves have no visible effects on sex determination in otherwise genotypically wild-type XX or XO animals. Analysis of interactions with mutations in the major sex-determining genes show that sup-26 and sup-27 influence sex determination in fundamentally different ways. sup-26 appears to act independently of her-1 to negatively modulate synthesis or function of tra-2 in both XX and XO animals. sup-27 may play a role in X-chromosome dosage compensation and influence sex determination indirectly.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Studies of masculinization, detoxification, and oxidative stress responses in guppies (Poecilia reticulata) exposed to effluent from a pulp mill.

Potential masculinization, detoxification, and oxidative stress responses were assessed in domesticated female guppies (Poecilia reticulata) exposed for 42 days to diluted effluent from a modern Swedish kraft pulp mill or a model androgen. Methyltestosterone induced male-like coloration and transformation of the anal fin into a gonopodium-like structure. The effluent did not induce any apparent changes of the anal fin morphology; however, the exposed guppies became more colored than control fish, which could be an androgenic response. A better understanding of the physiological mechanisms involved in these responses would be required for a full evaluation. Both primary effluent and effluent which had undergone activated sludge treatment caused a moderate but significant induction of hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity. However, the general toxicity of both effluents was low, as mortality was negligible even at 25% dilutions. There was a continuous production of offspring in all groups (47-62% female fry), except by methyltestosterone-treated females, which did not reproduce. There were no indications that either effluent caused oxidative stress since hepatic glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase and DT-diaphorase activities remained unchanged compared with controls.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The effects of diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth on the development of masculine behavior in juvenile female rhesus monkeys.

Eight pregnant rhesus monkeys were injected with 100 microg diethylstilbestrol dipropionate (DESDP) from the 40th day of gestation until term, a long-term treatment. Male (n = 3) and female (n = 5) offspring were obtained. Five other pregnant females were injected with DESDP beginning on the 115th day of gestation and continuing until either the 140th day or term--a relatively short-term treatment. Five female infants were obtained from these short-term treatments. Monkeys from the treated pregnancies were assigned randomly to mother-infant social groups containing untreated male and female infants the same age. They were observed in their peer groups each weekday from 3 to 12 months of age, and the display of mounting and play behavior was recorded for each subject. Results showed that DESDP significantly increased the frequency of display of these juvenile behaviors only in long-term-treated females. However, one of the aspects of mounting that is characteristic of males (the ratio of complete to abortive mounts) was unaffected even by the long-term treatment. Thus, DESDP-treated females displayed a limited behavioral masculinization. Whether this limitation was due to dosage and/or timing or to a selective action of DESDP was not determined. DESDP-treated males were not altered in any measurable way compared to untreated males.

Animals↗