Question

Some XY males are born with a defect in the enzyme 5 a-reductase and cannot convert testosterone into DHT. A typical developmental history for these males would be:

a.Born with ambiguous genitalia, perhaps assigned a female gender, but develops male secondary characteristics at puberty

b.Born with ambiguous genitalia, perhaps assigned a female gender, and retains female characteristics at puberty including menstruation

c.Born with ambiguous genitalia, perhaps assigned a female gender, and retains female characteristics at puberty but never menstruating

d.Born with male genitalia, but develops female secondary sex characteristics at puberty

e.Born with male genitalia, and retains male secondary sex characteristics at puberty

Answer 1

A) Born with ambiguous genatilia, perhaps assigned a female gender, but develops male secondary characteristics at puberty

Children with deficiency of 5 alpha-reductase will have decreased production of DHT during fetal development, and this leads to defective external genital development and ambiguous genitalia.

At puberty, testosterone is responsible for aggressive psychosexual behavior, deepening of the voice, increased muscle mass and initiating spermatogenesis.