Centre for Urological Research

Hormones in Male Development

The development of our external genitalia determines male or female phenotype (character) and influences how we enter society and are reared as boys or girls. Conventional dogma states that the male phenotype is dependent upon androgens and the female form is the default pathway. However, we have a record of publications to show the role of estrogens (as well as androgens) in the development of male reproductive tract tissues.

If we prove a role for estrogens in ExG development we will establish a new paradigm. This research is breakthrough science that will also have greater implications for understanding how exogenous estrogens and endocrine disrupting chemicals (that disrupt the balance between androgens and estrogens) are teratogenic for mammalian external genitalia and how developmental anomalies occur.