title: Morphology of the external genitalia of the adult male and female mice as an endpoint of sex differentiation.
abstract: Adult external genitalia (ExG) are the endpoints of normal sex differentiation. Detailed morphometric analysis and comparison of adult mouse ExG has revealed 10 homologous features distinguishing the penis and clitoris that define masculine vs. feminine sex differentiation. These features have enabled the construction of a simple metric to evaluate various intersex conditions in mutant or hormonally manipulated mice. This review focuses on the morphology of the adult mouse penis and clitoris through detailed analysis of histologic sections, scanning electron microscopy, and three-dimensional reconstruction. We also present previous results from evaluation of "non-traditional" mammals, such as the spotted hyena and wallaby to demonstrate the complex process of sex differentiation that involves not only androgen-dependent processes, but also estrogen-dependent and hormone-independent mechanisms.
authors: Division of Pediatric Urology, University of California, San Francisco Children's Hospital, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors: Dana A
authors: DA
authors: Weiss
authors: Esequiel
authors: E
authors: Rodriguez
authors: Tristan
authors: T
authors: Cunha
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Menshenina
authors: Dale
authors: D
authors: Barcellos
authors: Lok Yun
authors: LY
authors: Chan
authors: Gail
authors: G
authors: Risbridger
authors: Laurence
authors: L
authors: Baskin
authors: Gerald
authors: G
authors: Cunha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002987:Clitoris / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010413:Penis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012733:Sex Differentiation