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. 1987 May;84(10):3444–3447. doi: 10.1073/pnas.84.10.3444

Androstenedione may organize or activate sex-reversed traits in female spotted hyenas.

S E Glickman, L G Frank, J M Davidson, E R Smith, P K Siiteri
PMCID: PMC304887  PMID: 3472215

Abstract

Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta Erxleben) present a unique syndrome of reversal in behavioral and anatomical distinction between the sexes: females are heavier and more aggressive than males and dominant over them. The female's external genitalia include a false scrotum and a fully erectile pseudopenis through which mating and birth take place. Results of studies of circulating testosterone levels in wild spotted hyenas do not account for the "male-like" characteristics of the female. Androstenedione, however, is consistently higher in females than in males, particularly during early infancy. Experiments on rodents show that androstenedione can be a potent organizer of anatomical and behavioral differentiation. This study suggests that it may also produce the profound virilization of female spotted hyenas.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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