The production of a GnRH/LH surge in response to high levels ofestradiol is sexually differentiated in most mammals, i.e. in malescastrated to remove negative feedback from endogenous testosterone,treatment with a dose of estradiol that is known to elicit a GnRHand LH surge in ovariectomized females does not produce a GnRH orLH surge. Differentiation of the surge response is due to theeffects of gonadal steroids acting on the developing brain.
Based on your understanding of prenatal secretion ofsteroids, speculate what happens in males vs. females that resultsin the presence or absence of a GnRH/LH surge response. Suggest twoprenatal treatments that might be used to test the validity of yourexplanation – one that disrupts the LH surge in females, and onethat yields a functional surge response in males. In other words,what substance could be administered to a pregnant female thatmight produce female offspring in which high levels of estradiol donot produce a GnRH/LH surge, and what substance could beadministered that might produce male offspring in which high levelsof estradiol do produce a GnRH/LH surge?
