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,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1981-07, Vol.213 (4504), p.239-242
Main Authors: Meisel, Robert L., Ward, Ingeborg L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Androgens - physiology
Animals
Body weight
Castration
Contiguity
Estradiol - pharmacology
Female
Female animals
Fetus
Fetus - physiology
Male
Masculinity
Mating behavior
Ovulation method
Posture
Pregnancy
Progesterone - pharmacology
Rats
Reproduction
Sex Characteristics - drug effects
Sexual Behavior, Animal - drug effects
Uterus - physiology
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.7244634