Suppose that adrenal tumor releasing pharmacologic doses of testosterone occurs

Question

Suppose that adrenal tumor releasing pharmacologic doses of testosterone occurs in an XX embryo at 6 weeks post-fertilization.

A.        At birth, would this person’s external anatomy be essentially feminine, indeterminate, or essentially masculine?

B.        Select all of the following you should expect this person to have at birth: Mullerian ducts, seminal vesicles.

C.        Suppose this tumor was discovered and removed shortly after birth. At the age of puberty, the individual is given physiologic doses of the sex steroids most appropriate to their anatomy. Should it be possible for them to engage in sexual activity in a fairly normal way for a person of their external anatomy?

D.        Without vigorous medical intervention, is it likely that this person will be able to reproduce as a fertile female, a fertile male, or be infertile?

Explanation / Answer

A.

In a 6 week embryo the foundation of baby's sex organs don't take place. In case of a boy the foundation of genitals develop in week 9 but the testosterone production occurs at week 7 whereas in females genitals develops at around week 11.

So, if the adrenal tumor releases pharmacologic doses of testosterone in a female embryo at week 6 then ultimately the embryo will turn out to be intermediate and the embryo will have masculinized genitalia.

B.

The person will have both Mullerian ducts and Seminal Vesicles.

C.

No it won't be possible because the person will have both male and female genitalia so it won't be possible for that person to engage in sexual activity in a normal way. It is possible to develop homosexual behavior.

D.

The person will definitely be infertile without vigorous medical intervention.

C.

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