Question

Explain how changes in hormone signaling has shaped the unusual morphology of the female hyena's genitalia.

Answer 1

external genitalia of the spotted hyena is extreme masculinization of the female external genitalia. female spotted hyena is the only extant mammal that mates and gives birth through a pendulous male genitals like female sex organ (c l i t o r i s) there is independent

development of phallus in both males and females is independent of androgens; synthesis of androgen is done by phallus which are formed before the fetal testes or ovaries. pre- and postnatal growth in length of the male genital and c l i t o r i s is very less affected by androgen status.

Androgen function in helping several internal morphologies, as well as external surface features of the phallus, and thus responsible for dimorphism between the male genital and clitoris.

estrogens play a very important role in penile and clitoral development, and specifying the position of the urethral orifice, determining elasticity of the urethral meatus, and facilitating epithelial-epithelial fusion events required for proper development of the distal urethra/urogenital sinus and prepuce.

prenatal inhibition of estrogen synthesis by administration of letrozole cause malformations of the glans as well as the prepuce. The effects of prenatal androgens, anti-androgens and impaired estrogen synthesis are in relation with the tissue expression of androgen and estrogen receptors.

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