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PubMed1983

Influence of androgen on the development of sexual behavior in the rat. II. Time and dosage of androgen administration during the neonatal period and masculine and feminine copulatory behavior in females.

The objective of the present study was to delineate the period of sensitivity to a single androgen exposure during the initial neonatal hours on the development of masculine and feminine copulatory behavior in female rats. Female rats were injected once with either 500, 50, or 5 micrograms testosterone propionate (TP) at either 1 or 24 hr after birth. Following castration in adulthood and TP replacement, the females were tested four times at weekly intervals in prolonged sessions for masculine copulatory behavior. One month following the masculine copulatory tests the females were tested for 3 weeks for feminine copulatory behavior with weekly increasing levels of estradiol benzoate (2.5, 10, and 25 micrograms) and progesterone (200 micrograms). The results demonstrate that a single injection of TP administered at either 1 or 24 hr after birth can significantly increase the capacity of female rats to exhibit ejaculation patterns and that the amount of androgen that is administered is critical in determining the levels of ejaculatory responding. Similarly, the females given high doses (50 and 500 micrograms) of TP at either 1 or 24 hr neonatally were almost completely defeminized. In contrast, however, the females treated with 5 micrograms TP at 1 and 24 hr showed different levels of lordotic performance indicating a greater sensitivity to androgen immediately after birth than at 24 hr in female rats as has been shown in male rats.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Further evidence for masculinization of female rats by males located caudally in utero.

The morphology and behavior of female rodents is partially masculinized as a result of residence near males in the same uterine horn (Clemens effect). Two hypothetical mechanisms have been proposed to account for this effect. In the first hypothesis ("contiguity") androgens secreted by males in utero are proposed to diffuse across the amniotic membrane, reaching adjacent fetuses. In the second hypothesis ("caudal male") androgens are transported via the cervical-to-ovarian blood flow and may diffuse directly between closely apposed uterine veins and arteries. This study was designed to test directly which of these mechanisms appears more influential in masculinizing the morphology of female rats. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were decapitated early on Day 22 of gestation and pups were Caesarean delivered. Their anogenital distance and body weight were recorded, location in utero coded by means of footpad tatooing, and each litter fostered to a maternal female. Measurements were taken again when the animals were weaned. Statistical analysis revealed that the presence of one or more males caudal to a female in the uterine horn has a more critical influence on that female's morphology than contiguity per se. Such a mechanism may result in partial masculinization of dimorphic behaviors later in life.

Androgens↗
PubMed1986

GABAergic control of masculine sexual behavior.

Drugs affecting the GABAergic transmission were injected into the medial preoptic anterior hypothalamic area (MPOA) and the masculine sexual behavior analyzed. Antagonizing GABAergic neurotransmission by (+) bicuculline methiodide (30 ng/cannula), or 3-mercaptopropionic acid (10 or 20 micrograms/cannula) resulted in a drastic shortening of the postejaculatory intervals and a shortening of the ejaculation latency. Injection of compounds causing an increase in GABAergic activity, muscimol (25 ng/cannula) or ethanolamine-O-sulphate (80 micrograms/cannula) depressed masculine sexual behavior. Systemic treatment or injection into the nucleus caudatus putamen of compounds affecting the GABAergic transmission did not cause any alteration in the mating pattern. It is suggested that the GABAergic neurotransmission is involved in inhibitory processes underlying the masculine sexual behavior.

3-Mercaptopropionic Acid↗
PubMed1996

Effect of acute and chronic stress on masculine sexual behavior in the rat.

Masculine sexual behavior in rats can be stimulated by acutely stressing the animals. Nevertheless, little is known about the effect that different stressors could have on sexual behavior. In this work we studied the effect of different stressors applied both acutely and chronically on masculine sexual behavior. Sexually active male Wistar rats were submitted to stress by: immobilization (IMB); immersion in cold water (WIM); and electrical foot shock (EFS). These stressors were applied during 20 consecutive days and masculine sexual behavior was assessed on days 1, 4, 8, 12, 15 and 20. Motivational component, copulatory performance and copulatory potential were drastically altered by WIM. EFS produced significant alterations in almost all sexual parameters recorded but only when it was applied chronically. IMB only altered mount frequency and hit rate, although inconsistently. These results suggest that the effect of stress on sexual behavior depends on the nature and, in some conditions, on the duration of the stressor.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Masculinities fathering and health: the experiences of African-Caribbean and white working class fathers.

There is a developing body of research that investigates the links between masculinities and men's health experiences, but the links between masculinities and the health of fathers has been a neglected focus for research in the UK. This paper presents some of the findings drawn from a parent study which investigated African-Caribbean and white working class fathers' experiences of fathering, health and social connectedness. Data are drawn from interviews with 13 men (6 African-Caribbean and 7 White working class) living in a city in the West Midlands area of the UK. In this paper, I analyse and discuss African-Caribbean and white working class fathers' stories about the meaning of health, the influences upon their health, and their health practices. It was found that for the African-Caribbean fathers specifically, anticipated or perceived racist prejudice, abuse or discrimination influenced their health experiences. However, the meaning of health for both ethnic groups of fathers was as functional capacity, that is health was an asset that allowed fathers to meet the obligations of paid work and fathering. These obligations were also associated with a restricted sense of personal agency for the men interviewed, and the associated constraints were linked to transgressive consumption of alcohol, food and tobacco. In addition, fathers were also involved in solitary ways of dealing with their vulnerability, vulnerability that was associated with fathers' health concerns, and other difficult life experiences. Fathers' solitary experiences of vulnerability were also mediated by hegemonic forms of masculinity. Nevertheless, the experience of fathering within the lifecourse influenced men's health experiences: reflexivity and challenges to both transgressive consumption and solitary experiences were linked to fathers' perceived obligations to children. The significance of gender, ethnicity and social class for theory and future research with working class fathers and boys is identified, and the need for gender-sensitive public health and health promotion interventions regarding the 'work-family balance' and working class fathers' personal and social skills is also discussed.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2005

Hypocorticism and interrenal hyperplasia are not directly related to masculinization in XX mas(-1)/mas(-1) carp, Cyprinus carpio.

This study reports on a homozygous XX male strain of common carp (E5), which fail to mount a normal cortisol stress response. Earlier classical genetic analysis had indicated that masculinization of E5 fish was caused by a putative recessive mutation (mas(-1)/mas(-1)). Hypocorticism in E5 fish was studied to investigate if it was related to masculinization. Head-kidney tissues isolated from E5 fish showed a low cortisol-producing capacity in vitro, and also demonstrated a reduced sensitivity to stimulation with ACTH, when compared with an isogenic XY male carp strain (STD). There was no strain difference in androgen production by head-kidney tissues in vitro. E5 fish exhibited significant hyperplasia of the interrenal tissue (adrenal homologue of teleost fish) located in the head-kidney. Conversion of pregnenolone was significantly lower in E5 head-kidney homogenates, compared to STD homogenates, however, no strain difference was found in the conversion of 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone into cortisol. Gonad homogenates incubated with pregnenolone showed no strain difference in conversion to corticosteroids and androgens. Results indicate that the interrenal hyperplasia and hypocorticism in this strain of carp may be due to a dysfunction of the 17alpha-hydroxylase activity of the enzyme P450c17 in the interrenal, but that this defect may not be the primary factor resulting in masculinization of these XX genotypes.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed2003

Higher levels of state depression in masculine than in feminine nations.

Studies using identical measures have identified different levels of depression in different countries or cultures. Until now, however, explanations for such differences, other than methodological ones, have not been empirically addressed. It was hypothesized and found that soft or feminine nations in which both women and men are offered equal opportunities for the fulfillment of multiple social roles that are associated with good self-rated health would score significantly lower on national depression levels than tough or masculine societies in which such opportunities exist to a clearly lesser extent. Analyses of data collected in 14 nations in Europe (total N>5000) demonstrated that higher scores on Hofstede's national masculinity index and lower ones on national wealth were independent predictors of higher national depression levels. National trait neuroticism did not mediate the relationship between national masculinity and national depression levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Gender stereotypes and the relationship between masculinity and femininity: a developmental analysis.

This study investigated developmental shifts in (a) the use of global gender stereotypes (base rates) and individuating gender-relevant information when making social judgments and (b) the perceived association between masculinity and femininity. Interviews/surveys of kindergartners, 3rd graders, 7th graders, 10th graders, and college students (N = 491) were conducted, in which Ss were presented with descriptions of boys or girls with stereotypical or counterstereotypical attributes and asked to judge other characteristics these boys or girls might have. The data indicated that (a) reliance on gender labels as judgment cues remains stable developmentally, (b) use of individuating information (particularly masculine individuating information) increases with age, and (c) the relationship between masculinity and femininity becomes increasingly negative with age, suggesting that gender may initially be viewed in dualistic terms but later as a unidimensional construct.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Men, masculinity, and the contexts of help seeking.

Research on men's help seeking yields strategies for enhancing men's use of mental and physical health resources. Analysis of the assumptions underlying existing theory and research also provides a context for evaluating the psychology of men and masculinity as an evolving area of social scientific inquiry. The authors identify several theoretical and methodological obstacles that limit understanding of the variable ways that men do or do not seek help from mental and physical health care professionals. A contextual framework is developed by exploring how the socialization and social construction of masculinities transact with social psychological processes common to a variety of potential help-seeking contexts. This approach begins to integrate the psychology of men and masculinity with theory and methodology from other disciplines and suggests innovative ways to facilitate adaptive help seeking.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Induction of PGE2 by estradiol mediates developmental masculinization of sex behavior.

Adult male sexual behavior in mammals requires the neuronal organizing effects of gonadal steroids during a sensitive perinatal period. During development, estradiol differentiates the rat preoptic area (POA), an essential brain region in the male copulatory circuit. Here we report that increases in prostaglandin-E(2) (PGE(2)), resulting from changes in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) regulation induced by perinatal exposure to estradiol, are necessary and sufficient to organize the crucial neural substrate that mediates male sexual behavior. Briefly preventing prostaglandin synthesis in newborn males with the COX inhibitor indomethacin permanently downregulates markers of dendritic spines in the POA and severely impairs male sexual behavior. Developmental exposure to the COX inhibitor aspirin results in mild impairment of sexual behavior. Conversely, administration of PGE(2) to newborn females masculinizes the POA and leads to male sex behavior in adults, thereby highlighting the pathway of steroid-independent brain masculinization. Our findings show that PGE(2) functions as a downstream effector of estradiol to permanently masculinize the brain.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Masculinizing effect of dihydrotestosterone on growth hormone secretion is inhibited in ovariectomized rats with anterolateral deafferentation of the medial basal hypothalamus or in intact female rats.

There is a striking sex difference in the pattern of growth hormone (GH) secretion in rats. Our previous studies showed that short-term administration of pharmacological doses of testosterone or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) masculinized the GH secretory pattern in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The locus where testosterone or DHT interacts with the somatotropic axis is believed to be the hypothalamus. To obtain insights into this phenomenon, we administered a single dose of DHT s.c. to adult OVX rats at 0.01, 0. 1 or 1 mg/rat. Blood GH concentrations were measured in unanaesthetized rats. Six to 12 h after the s.c. administration of all three doses of DHT, the GH secretory pattern revealed a male-like secretory pattern as shown by episodic bursts occurring at 2-3-h intervals with low or undetectable trough levels. When anterolateral deafferentation of the medial basal hypothalamus (ALC) was performed, the blood concentrations revealed irregularly occurring small fluctuations, instead of the usual high bursts, but the basal GH concentration was significantly higher than that of OVX-sham-operated rats. DHT treatment did not elicit pulsatile GH secretion or alter GH concentrations in OVX rats with ALC. When intact adult female rats received DHT at a dose of 1 mg/rat, the male-like GH secretory pattern was not induced. These results suggest that neural inputs from the anterolateral direction to the medial basal hypothalamus are necessary for the masculinizing effect of DHT on the GH secretory pattern in OVX rats, and that oestrogen in intact female rats prevents the masculinizing effect of DHT.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1976

Masculinity-femininity in fathers of creative male adolescents.

This study investigated the relationship of paternal masculinity-femininity to filial creativity in a sample of high school students and their fathers. Thirty-one male high school students were identified as creative on the basis of teacher nominations and scores on the Remote Associates Test. An equal size control group of students matched on sex, educational level, grade point average, and geographical residence was formed. Fathers of both experimental and control students were administered a battery of tests which included a variety of masculinity-femininity measures. The results seem to support the general hypothesis that creativity is related to parental identification as a function of a less conventional sex-role stereotype, and the more specific hypothesis that there is a relation between paternal masculinity-femininity and filial creativity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Masculinity, femininity, and women scientists' self-esteem and self-acceptance.

The literature suggests women scientists are a unique population. The present study investigated differences in self-esteem, self-acceptance, masculinity and femininity among several sample populations of women, including scientists (n = 62), professionals (other than scientists) (n = 89), college students (n = 83), clients (n = 52), and victims of domestic violence (n = 57). The Personal Orientation Inventory (Shostrom, 1974) and Bem Sex Role Inventory (Bem, 1974) were administered to subjects, together with a demographic data sheet. An ANOVA was used to investigate differences between women scientists and other groups of women, and correlations were used to examine the relationship of masculinity and femininity with self-esteem and self-acceptance. Masculinity was found to correlate with self-esteem for all but the student group and with self-acceptance for all but the student and scientist group. Self-acceptance scores were significantly lower for women scientists than for professional and student groups, and femininity scores were significantly lower for scientists than for all other groups of women.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The use of masculine and feminine to describe women's and men's behavior.

The hypothesis that the terms masculine and feminine would not have the same connotations as the personality traits that are typically associated with them was investigated. Two hundred five undergraduates (116 women and 89 men) at a US university rated how much they expected to like various hypothetical women and men, each of whom was described by a single trait adjective. Ten instrumental-trait and 10 socioemotional-trait adjectives, including the terms masculine and feminine, were associated with a targeted female or male character (e.g., "an independent woman" or "an understanding man"). Although "a masculine woman" and "a feminine man" both received low ratings, female targets described by instrumental adjectives and male targets described by socioemotional adjectives received high ratings. Nonstereotypic characters were rated more positively by the female respondents than they were by the male respondents. Stereotypic targets were rated more positively by other-gender respondents than by same-gender respondents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Relation of drinking and eating to masculinity and femininity.

The relationship between desirable and undesirable aspects of masculinity and femininity and drinking and eating was investigated. A sample of 144 university women in Australia completed questionnaires that assessed masculinity and femininity, reported drinking, alcohol dependence, eating restraint, frequency of dieting, and overeating. Evidence of a common underlying dimension linking aspects of problem drinking and overeating to undesirable masculine characteristics was found. The results are consistent with the view that women engage in excessive consummatory behaviors such as binging to deal with their gender-role conflict.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Reproduction and resistance to the culture of femininity and masculinity in secondary school physical education.

The purpose of the study was to investigate ways in which gender-related perceptions and actions influenced students' construction of realities in curriculum-in-action in secondary school physical education. The participants were junior and senior secondary school students in a midwestern city in the United States. Data collection methods included observations and interviews. Data were analyzed with inductive analytical procedures. The findings of the study revealed that a majority of the female and male students reproduced traditionally dominant forms of femininity and masculinity. Female students patterned their behavior consistent with feminine ideology in selecting and participating in class activities, and male students chose and participated in class activities along masculine conceptions. The results were interpreted with reproduction and resistance theories. While femininity and masculinity cultures were reproduced through students' choice of activities and participation patterns, these cultures were resisted through students' construction of oppositional behavior.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Embodied masculinity and androgen deprivation therapy.

This paper describes the findings from an ethnographic study of 16 Anglo-Australian men treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for advanced prostate cancer. Utilising a social constructionist gendered analysis, participants' experiences, particularly in relation to embodied masculinity, are described in the context of reduced testosterone that accompany ADT. The findings indicated that participants reformulated many ideals of hegemonic masculinity in response to functional body changes. However, hegemonic masculinity strongly influenced participants' philosophical resolve to "fight" prostate cancer. The findings are considered in broader ongoing debates about essentialist sex and the social construction of gender.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

Fetal female rats are masculinized by male littermates located caudally in the uterus.

Female rats are masculinized in utero by male littermates sharing the same uterine horn. Increased anogenital distances in neonatal females and mounting behavior in adult females are related to the presence of males on the caudal side of the females in the uterine horn. Contrary to current beliefs, interamniotic diffusion may not be responsible for the exchange of masculinizing agents among fetuses. Since uterine blood flow in the rat is from the direction of the cervix toward the ovary, masculinizing hormones secreted by fetal males may be carried via the uterine vasculature to female littermates located further downstream.

Androgens↗