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PubMed2004

Zinc deficiency and growth: current concepts in relationship to two important points: intellectual and sexual development.

Zinc deficiency remains a serious health problem worldwide affecting developed as well as developing countries. Despite the evidence proving that zinc deprivation during the periods of rapid growth negatively affects the cognitive brain as well as sexual development, there are few complete studies carried out in children. The present article proposes a revision of the evidence gathered until now on the relationship existing between zinc deficiency and intellectual and sexual development during the stages of childhood, preadolescence, and adolescence.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Precocious puberty: identifying early sexual development.

Primary care providers should have the ability to identify normal and abnormal variations of sexual development in children. The incidence of precocious puberty is approximately one child in every 10,000 children in the United States. While etiologies vary, precise differential diagnosis is essential because it will determine the course of treatment required. New forms of therapy using long-acting luteinizing releasing factor agonists are currently being investigated. Developmentally appropriate explanations for affected children regarding the diagnosis and treatment plan are a crucial component of care. Ongoing educational and emotional support for the child and family are essential as they learn to cope with early sexual development.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Typical adolescent sexual development.

This article addresses the typical components that contribute to the development of adolescent sexuality. It defines the important terms that are addressed in the article, explains the roots of human sexuality from birth and childhood, and details three components of adolescent sexuality: biologic, psychologic, and social cultural. The concluding sections on sexual education and sexual risk-taking further explain key factors in the development of adolescent sexuality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Sexual development of Czech girls before and after the "Velvet Revolution"].

Sexual development and behavior of 771 Czech girls 16 to 18 years old had been investigated by two sexuologists during the period of 1986 till 1994. A standardized interview of 78 items had been applied in a setting of a rehabilitation facility in Franzensbad. The majority of probands were there for rehabilitation after appendectomy. There were 389 examinees (158 apprentices and 231 students) interviewed before "the velvet revolution" and 382 girls (159 apprentices and 223 students) in the course of the years 1990 to 1994. A comparison of these two groups revealed a definite change in the psychosexual development of girls in the Czech society after the "Velvet Revolution". Particularly the motivation for the first coitus had changed. After November 1989 it was noticed that the answer "obliged her partner" had significantly decreased and the answer "wished it for myself" has substantially increased. Also in the group of probands with multiple sexual partners (21.5% of the sample) their average number decreased unexpectedly after "the Velvet Revolution".

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Coordination of social signals and ovarian function during sexual development.

Social cues, often in the form of priming pheromones, can retard or enhance the rate of sexual development in a variety of mammals. The complex interactions between the social environment and reproduction have been explored most thoroughly in the house mouse. A urinary pheromone produced by females in a group inhibits sexual development, and a urinary pheromone from adult males accelerates onset of puberty in juvenile females. These priming pheromones apparently are detected by the vomeronasal organ and induce the changes in ovarian function via changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary system. Accelerated onset of puberty is not accompanied by deficits in reproductive performance. Puberty acceleration can have important management implications for domestic farm animals. It already is proving useful for manipulation in rearing swine and in synchronizing seasonal reproductive recrudescence in sheep. In cattle, the results are less clear that signals from the bull can hasten onset of puberty in heifers. The effect may be operable only under certain nutritional or other interacting conditions. Presumably, the postpartum anestrus period in the cow can be shortened by stimulation from the bull, although pheromones have not been implicated in this effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Sexual development and life of Czechoslovak women born between 1951 and 1970].

By means of interviews in Frantiskovy Láznĕ data on the sexual development and life of 586 married gynaecological patients born between 1951 and 1960 and 276 women born between 1961 and 1970 were obtained. As compared with data from 1563 patients born in individual decades between 1911 and 1950, it was revealed that the acceleration of sexual development proceeded. The mean age of the first sexual intercourse declined further and in the sub-group born between 1961 and 1970 is was 17.8 years. In this sub-group, however, the percentage of women who experienced during intercourse orgasm only rarely increased markedly. The value of 26% is the highest of all decades investigated since 1911. The authors express the hypothesis that this negative change in the sexual life of contemporary young women is due to a number of stressing factors ensuing from the present social environment.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A zinc-finger protein, Rst2p, regulates transcription of the fission yeast ste11(+) gene, which encodes a pivotal transcription factor for sexual development.

Schizosaccharomyces pombe ste11 encodes a high-mobility group family transcriptional activator that is pivotal in sexual development. Transcription of ste11 is induced by starvation of nutrients via a decrease of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity. Here we report the identification of a novel transcription factor, Rst2p, that directly regulates ste11 expression. Cells in which the rst2 gene was disrupted expressed ste11 poorly and were sterile, and this sterility could be suppressed by artificial expression of ste11. Disruption of rst2 suppressed hypermating and hypersporulation in the PKA-null mutant, whereas overexpression of rst2 induced sexual development in the PKA-activated mutant. Cloning analysis indicated that Rst2p was a Cys(2)His(2) zinc-finger protein carrying 567 amino acid residues. Rst2p could bind specifically to a stress response element-like cis element located in the ste11 promoter region, which was important for ste11 expression. Meanwhile, transcription of ste11 was reduced significantly by a defective mutation in itself. An artificial supply of functional Ste11p circumvented this reduction. A complete Ste11p-binding motif (TR box) found in the promoter region was necessary for the full expression of ste11, suggesting that Ste11p is involved in the activation of ste11. We conclude that transcription of ste11 is under autoregulation in addition to control through the PKA-Rst2p pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

The makings of maleness: towards an integrated view of male sexual development.

As the mammalian embryo develops, it must engage one of the two distinct programmes of gene activity, morphogenesis and organogenesis that characterize males and females. In males, sexual development hinges on testis determination and differentiation, but also involves many coordinated transcriptional, signalling and endocrine networks that underpin the masculinization of other organs and tissues, including the brain. Here we bring together current knowledge about these networks, identify gaps in the overall picture, and highlight the known defects that lead to disorders of male sexual development.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Parental divorce and sexual development in girls].

Using interviews, the authors examined the course of sexual development during puberty in 614 girls aged 16-18 years. The group was divided into two sub-groups. The first was formed by 426 girls (69.4%) brought up in a complete and balanced family. The other sub-group was formed by 140 girls (22.8%) of divorced parents with the loss of the father or mother. Statistical evaluation of data did not reveal significant differences in the sub-groups as regards their sexual pubertal development.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Effects of 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol on sexual development of the amphipod Hyalella azteca.

The effects of the synthetic estrogen 17alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE) on sexual development of the freshwater amphipod Hyalella azteca was investigated. Organisms were exposed in a multigeneration experiment to EE concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 microg/L and the development of both external and internal sexual characteristics were studied. Second-generation male H. azteca exposed from gametogenesis until adulthood to 0.1 and 0.32 microg EE/L developed significantly smaller second gnathopods. The sex ratio of the populations exposed to EE for more than two generations tended, although not statistically significantly, to be in favor of females. Histological aberrations of the reproductive tract, i.e., indications of hermaphroditism, disturbed maturation of the germ cells, and disturbed spermatogenesis, of post-F1-generation males were observed in all EE exposures. These findings provide evidence that sexual development of H. azteca is affected by exposure to sublethal concentrations of EE.

Amphipoda↗
PubMed1998

The masculinized female and investigation of abnormal sexual development.

The congenital adrenal hyperplasias are the commonest cause of ambiguity of the external genitalia at birth, although sexual differentiation in these disorders is strictly normal. The masculinized genetic female is invariably the result of 21-hydroxylase deficiency. The molecular features are well characterized and the phenotypic correlates are generally concordant. Prenatal treatment by maternal dexamethasone administration can successfully prevent virilization of the external genitalia in an affected female fetus. Placental aromatase is a rare and recently characterized alternative cause of a masculinized female which should be considered in the absence of fetal adrenal hyperplasia and maternal androgen-secreting tumours. The investigation of abnormal sexual development requires an initial karyotype analysis and serum 17OH progesterone measurement to determine whether 21-hydroxylase deficiency is the likeliest cause. Thereafter, the presence of a 46,XY karyotype determines the mode of investigation according to androgen production and action. Obtaining appropriate samples for DNA, biochemical and immunohistochemical analyses is essential if the diagnostic yield for the investigation of abnormal sexual development is to be improved.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed2006

The Aspergillus nidulans rcoA gene is required for veA-dependent sexual development.

The Aspergillus nidulans rcoADelta mutant exhibits growth and developmental defects. We show that the rcoADelta mutant lacks cleistothecia and is self-sterile. In crosses with wild-type strains, rcoADelta nuclei do not contribute to the cleistothecial walls. Furthermore, sexual development resulting from veA overexpression is rcoA dependent, indicating that rcoA lies downstream of veA in the sexual development pathway.

Aspergillus nidulans↗
PubMed2002

SakA MAP kinase is involved in stress signal transduction, sexual development and spore viability in Aspergillus nidulans.

In eukaryotic cells, environmental stress signals are transmitted by evolutionarily conserved MAPKs, such as Hog1 in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Spc1 in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe and p38/JNK in mammalian cells. Here, we report the identification of the Aspergillus nidulans sakA gene, which encodes a member of the stress MAPK family. The sakA gene is able to complement the S. pombe spc1- defects in both osmo-regulation and cell cycle progression. Moreover, SakA MAPK is activated in response to osmotic and oxidative stress in both S. pombe and A. nidulans. However, in contrast to hog1 and spc1 mutants, the sakA null mutant is not sensitive to high osmolarity stress, indicating a different regulation of the osmostress response in this fungus. On the other hand, the DeltasakA mutant shows development and cell-specific phenotypes. First, it displays premature steA-dependent sexual development. Second, DeltasakA mutant produces asexual spores that are highly sensitive to oxidative and heat shock stress and lose viability upon storage. Indeed, SakA is transiently activated early after induction of conidiation. Our results indicate that SakA MAPK is involved in stress signal transduction and repression of sexual development, and is required for spore stress resistance and survival.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1983

Testicular testosterone and dihydrotestosterone during sexual development in humans.

The concentrations of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone was determined in the human testis at different stages of sexual development, in patients with undescended testis or in subjects who had been treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Patients were divided in three groups, prepubertal (Tanner's stage I), early puberty (Tanner's stages 2 + 3) and late puberty (Tanner's stages 4 + 5). Even though tubular diameter and serum testosterone followed the expected gradual rise during sexual maturation, testicular testosterone increased abruptly at early puberty, resulting in a high testicular: serum testosterone ratio at this stage. The testicular dihydrotestosterone:testosterone ratio was also high at early puberty. These data suggest that, at initiation of sexual development, seminiferous tubules receive a high androgen load, at a time when other androgen target organs are barely stimulated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Age and seasonal factors in the incidence of premature sexual development in girls in the Jerusalem area.

We conducted a retrospective epidemiologic study on girls with signs of precocious sexual development followed-up in our clinic over a ten-year period. Of a total of 66 girls, 36 had premature thelarche, 11 had premature pubarche, and 19 had idiopathic complete precocious puberty. We noted a steady increase in the number of girls with premature sexual development over this period. Furthermore, the incidence of premature development of pubertal signs during spring months was significantly higher than in other seasons. Environmental influence on premature pubarche seems to be of lesser significance than on premature thelarche and complete precocious puberty.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2006

The predicted G-protein-coupled receptor GPR-1 is required for female sexual development in the multicellular fungus Neurospora crassa.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) control important aspects of asexual and sexual development in eukaryotic organisms. We have identified a predicted GPCR in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa with similarity to cyclic AMP-receptor like GPCRs from Dictyostelium discoideum and GCR1 from Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression of gpr-1 is highest in female reproductive structures, and deletion of gpr-1 leads to defects during sexual development. Unfertilized female structures (protoperithecia) from Deltagpr-1 strains are weakly pigmented, small, and submerged in the agar. The perithecia produced after fertilization have deformed beaks that lack ostioles, the openings through which ascospores are discharged. Localization studies using a GPR-1-green fluorescent protein fusion protein showed that GPR-1 is targeted to female reproductive structures. Genetic epistasis experiments with the three Galpha genes were inconclusive due to the early block in mating exhibited by Deltagna-1 strains. Phenotypic analysis of mutants from a high-throughput N. crassa knockout project allowed identification of BEK-1, a homeodomain transcription factor that is a potential target of GPR-1. The perithecial defects of Deltabek-1 strains are similar to those of the Deltagpr-1 strain, and epistasis analysis indicates that bek-1 could function downstream of gpr-1 during postfertilization events. The effect must be posttranscriptional, as bek-1 transcript levels are not affected in Deltagpr-1 strains. The lack of ostioles in Deltagpr-1 and Deltabek-1 mutants has an undesirable effect on the ability to spread progeny (ascospores) by the normal ejection mechanism and would severely compromise the fitness of these strains in nature.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

When should cranial magnetic resonance imaging be used in girls with early sexual development?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether concise parameters can be established in girls who present with signs of early puberty before the age of 8 years, which would help to identify those in whom cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is indicated. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was undertaken over a 10-year period from 1992-2002. The two requirements for inclusion in this study were girls who manifested pubertal changes before the age of 8.0 years and who underwent MRI of the brain. The records of 130 female patients with the presumptive diagnosis of precocious puberty (PP) were evaluated. Patients' medical records were reviewed for histories of any reported focal neurological complaint suspicious for intracranial lesions, such as headaches, seizures, or visual disturbances, as well as menses and advanced bone age (>2 SD) compared to chronological age. Seventy-five patients met these criteria and were divided into two groups. Group I consisted of nine patients with abnormal cranial MRI; Group II consisted of 66 patients with normal MRI. RESULTS: The patients in each group who had one or more of the central nervous system (CNS) signs and symptoms of early sexual development that were evaluated were markedly different. In Group I, 89% (CI 52-99.7%) had positive signs and symptoms that were suspicious for an intracranial lesion. In Group II, 94% (CI 85-98%), 63 of 66 girls, had no CNS signs or symptoms. CONCLUSION: The use of cranial MRI in the evaluation of girls with early sexual development is excessive. Girls with signs of pubertal development before age 8 years should be evaluated and followed. Those with specific CNS signs and symptoms, menses, and girls with a rapid advance in sexual development should undergo cranial MRI. Using this approach, far fewer patients in our study would have had cranial MRI.

Brain Neoplasms↗