EVALUATION OF ANDROGENIC PROPERTIES OF PROGESTATIONAL COMPOUNDS IN THE RAT BY THE FEMALE FOETAL MASCULINIZATION TEST
- 1 September 1961
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Acta Endocrinologica
- Vol. 38 (1) , 128-136
- https://doi.org/10.1530/acta.0.0380128
Abstract
A study was made of the effect of nine progestational compounds on the genital tract of female foetuses. The progestins were injected subcutaneously into pregnant rats from the 15th to the 21st day. The influence of these compounds was studied on the female foetuses by: I measuring of the ano-genital distance at birth II inspection of the gonads III histological examination of the lower part of the body, the ovaries and the clitoris. It appears that classification of sex by assuming that the ano-genital distance of more than 3 mm is always of the male species is incorrect, as shown by examination of the gonads. Furthermore that new-borns with a normal ano-genital distance and rightly classified as females may show histological changes in the genital tract, indicative of masculinization. It is concluded that the study of the masculinizing effect of progestins should be carried out by inspection of the gonads and serial sections of appropriate organs and tissues.Keywords
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