Experimental Congenital Adrenal Cortical Hyperplasia: Prevention of Adrenal Hyperplasia and Clitoral Hypertrophy by Corticosterone. ()

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Abstract
Summary Corticosterone prevents the production of adrenal cortical hyperplasia and clitoral hypertrophy in rat gonadal female fetuses by a selective inhibitor of 3β-hy-droxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-enzyme), but does not affect the production of hy-pospadias in gonadal male fetuses. These findings suggest that clitoral hypertrophy results in female fetuses with deficient activity of the 3β-enzyme from excess an-drogenic steroidal precursors of adrenal origin produced in response to the block in adrenal corticoid biosynthesis; while hypospadias in male fetuses with deficient activity of the 3β-enzyme results from testicular secretion of androgenic steroidal products insufficient for normal penile differentiation.