The makings of maleness: towards an integrated view of male sexual development.

Full Abstract

As the mammalian embryo develops, it must engage one of the two distinct programmes of gene activity, morphogenesis and organogenesis that characterize males and females. In males, sexual development hinges on testis determination and differentiation, but also involves many coordinated transcriptional, signalling and endocrine networks that underpin the masculinization of other organs and tissues, including the brain. Here we bring together current knowledge about these networks, identify gaps in the overall picture, and highlight the known defects that lead to disorders of male sexual development.

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Author information

Author/s: Wilhelm, Dagmar (D); Koopman, Peter (P);

Affiliation: Division of Molecular Genetics and Development, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: Nature reviews. Genetics (Nat Rev Genet), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Aug; vol 7 (issue 8) : pp 620-31

Dates: Created 2006/07/18; Completed 2006/09/05; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16832429, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals
Female
Genitalia, Male - cytology; embryology; physiology

Humans
Male
Sexual Development - genetics; physiology

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