Endocrine Studies on Human Hermaphrodites and Their Bearing on the Interpretation of Homosexuality1

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Abstract
Two individuals raised as sisters showed at the age of 24 and 26 yrs. respectively completely descended testes and small hypospadic penes. The puberal secondary sex characters, voice, hair, and breast development were of [female] type. Mentality and attitudes in sexual matters were likewise distinctly feminine. The general body proportions and skeletal features were part [female], part eunuchoid. The hermaphrodites have two brothers, apparently normal. Urine examination of one individual indicated essentially normal [female] endocrine conditions with normal estrogenic and low gonadotrophic contents. After removal of the testes both individuals became hormonally of the castrate type. Laparotomies gave no evidence of any internal sex glands or oviducts. The testes of one patient were available for histological study. The epididymides contained no spermatozoa and but little debris; the tubular epithelia were fairly well developed, indicating presence of some androgens. The interstitial cells were slightly hypotrophic; the seminal tubules were lined with Sertoli cells which gave the appearance of being actively secreting. In numerous places the tubules were greatly distended, each cyst containing one body of egg-like character. Spermatogenesis ended, as a rule, in degeneration of the early spermatocytes though at times some abnormal spermatozoa were also formed. The importance of these observations in relation to the problem of sex reversal in man and the hereditary nature of certain types of homosexuality is discussed.

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