Modification of Sexual Development in the Opossum by Sex Hormones.

Abstract

Opossum pouch young, indifferent as to sex at birth, show stimulated responses of both sex ducts from treatment with ointments or injections of androgens or estrogens; duct inhibitions are not evident. Responses are revealed by day 16. Androgenic stimulation of Müllerian, and estrogenic stimulation of Wolffian, ducts are unexpected; female prostate induction occurs with androgenic treatment and male prostate inhibition with estrogenic treatment. Responses differ from those revealed in the free-martin.