PMC5805385_01
Baseline pubertal hormone levels before and after removal of ovotestis (orchiectomy). In the first 2 weeks of life, LH and FSH attained pubertal-adult levels and testosterone (T) rose to a level typical for a mature male, while estradiol (E2) remained at a prepubertal level and the right ovary was small (Fig. 2e). One month after ovotestis removal (DOL 58), serum estradiol had risen to an elevated preovulatory range (390 pg/mL) and gonadotropins fell, with FSH becoming frankly low (0.6 IU/L). While testosterone fell remarkably (to 62 ng/dL), it was above the normal female range. By DOL 80, the ovary had enlarged considerably, to an adult size and morphology (Fig. 2f). However, estradiol was falling and FSH rising. The hormone changes and ovarian development (Fig. 2g) were all waning by DOL 114. Conversion to SI units: testosterone x 0.0347 = nM, estradiol x 3.61 = pM.
nihms931268f1.jpg
PMC5805385_01_nihms931268f1.jpg
F1
At day of life (DOL) 6, plasma testosterone was 77 ng/dL, DHEAS 105 mug/dL, and estradiol 7 pg/mL (Fig. 1).