Androgen Stimulation and Laryngeal Development

Abstract

Androgen-induced changes in laryngeal growth patterns were studied using a sheep animal model. Forty-eight lambs were divided into eight treatment groups. Lambs in seven of the groups were castrated at birth, while lambs in the eighth group served as an intact (noncastrated) control. Six groups were then treated with varying doses of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, while the seventh served as a castrated, nontreated control. All animals were killed and gross dissections of the larynges were performed. Thirty-four linear and angular measurements were obtained from each larynx. The mean superior thyroid horn separation showed the most dramatic androgen-induced effect (p = 0.023). Laryngeal anterior-posterior diameter, superior thyroid horn height, posterior thyroid cartilage width, thyroid cartilage angle, and vocal process to arytenoid base distances all demonstrated positive dose-response relationships. Hypoandrogenic levels appeared to have an inhibitory effect upon laryngeal growth when compared to castrated controls.