Abstract

Androgens regulate a large number of developmental processes, starting in fetal life and going on all the way through puberty. The action of androgens is essential for development of the male genital tract in the embryo, and development of secondary male characteristics at puberty. In addition, androgens are important for maintenance of normal male functions in adulthood, such as spermatogenesis, sexual libido, and other aspects of the male phenotype. Lack of androgens or androgen action during embryonic development inevitably results in partial or more complete lack of virilization or feminization of the genital tract. Primary sex determination is strictly chromosomal, while gonadal hormones and their downstream effects are responsible for differentiation of genital tract tissues. This chapter describes the ontogeny of sex determination and differentiation, and the factors involved in androgen-regulated genital tract development. Furthermore, androgen receptor function and mechanism of action is described in more detail, as well as the involvement of the androgen receptor in different pathological conditions. Mouse models are being widely used to study processes and factors involved in genital tract development, and therefore throughout this thesis the situation for the mouse will be outlined and, where applicable, observations in humans will be referred to.

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J.A. Grootegoed (Anton)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
The printing of this thesis was financially supported by the Dr. Ir. van der Laar Stichting, and the Jurriaanse Stichting.
hdl.handle.net/1765/51250
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Umar, A. (2003, December 3). Male Genital Tract Development: looking at the protein side of life. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/51250