In humans, early cortisol biosynthesis provides a mechanism to safeguard female sexual development
J. Clin. Invest. Masahiro Goto, et al. 116:953 doi:10.1172/JCI25091 [Go to this article.]

Figure 8
Virilization of the external genitalia and adrenal androgen biosynthesis. (A) Undifferentiated human external genitalia at 8 wpc. (B) Male differentiation of scrotal folds and fusion of the urethral folds (asterisks mark patent regions, either side) at 10 wpc. gs, genital swelling; gt, genital tubercle; sf, scrotal folds; uf, urethral folds. Scale bars: 500 μm. (C) PCR (35 cycles) in the presence (+) or absence (–) of RT for HSD17B isoforms known to convert androstenedione to testosterone. HSD17B5 is also known as AKR1C3.