238
WILLIAM C. YOUNG
other factors—the personal constitution, the personality development
during the whole life, the present situation of the patient, and his intellectual and emotional evaluation of the situation . . . glucocorticoids
(like other hormones) can influence the psychic life, but never is the
psychic life or any aspect of it dominated by this hormonal influence
alone."
We have noted that the endocrinologist probing into the relationship
between gonadal hormones and reproductive behavior in lower mammals
sees the beginning of this influence (9, pp. 1215-1221). In laboratory
studies of lower mammals the relationships between the adrenal steroids
and behavior have not been as apparent. Conceivably though direct relationships will be found, and it will be interesting to see if here too the
beginning of an influence of psychologic or experiential factors cannot
be detected.
Recently attention has been given to the role of prenatal gonadal hormones in the patterning of sexual behavior after the attainment of adulthood (9, 33, 329). Presumptive evidence that such an organizing action
is a part of the development of sexuality in lower vertebrates is cited in
the present discussion (Section IX). The suggestion is made here that
the universal occurrence of dimorphism in the responsiveness of adults
to estrogens and androgens and some of the ambisexual behavior may be
consequences of this action during the embryonic and fetal period.
Available data in the form of records of sex reversal in adult fishes,
amphibians, and birds (397-400, 425-428) suggest that there is a greater
plasticity in these phyla than in mammals and that in mammals the
action of fetal gonadal hormones is more decisive. Psychiatrists and
others would question this suggestion (see e.g., 6, 8, 34-36). If they are
correct, this would be another example of the "intrusion" of psychologic
influences mentioned above. Data obtained from investigations of fishes,
reptiles, and birds (57, 62, 101, 104, 112, 120, 186, 193, 194, 241, 429)
suggest that the degree of specificity to estrogens and androgens may be
less in members of these phyla than in mammals. Again, however, the
suggestion has been made for man that androgens increase the sexual
desire in the human female even more than estrogens
(430-438).
A third example of an evolutionary change that may have taken
place is in the degree of specificity to hormonal action within the individuals of a species and sex. Limited but carefully gathered data reveal
that progesterone is quite highly specific in its estrus-inducing action in
the female guinea pig (439, 440). The various estrogens and androgens
should be tested similarly, as they have in the case of many tissue
reactions.
A last subject has to do with the many similarities of the relationship
WILLIAM C. YOUNG
other factors—the personal constitution, the personality development
during the whole life, the present situation of the patient, and his intellectual and emotional evaluation of the situation . . . glucocorticoids
(like other hormones) can influence the psychic life, but never is the
psychic life or any aspect of it dominated by this hormonal influence
alone."
We have noted that the endocrinologist probing into the relationship
between gonadal hormones and reproductive behavior in lower mammals
sees the beginning of this influence (9, pp. 1215-1221). In laboratory
studies of lower mammals the relationships between the adrenal steroids
and behavior have not been as apparent. Conceivably though direct relationships will be found, and it will be interesting to see if here too the
beginning of an influence of psychologic or experiential factors cannot
be detected.
Recently attention has been given to the role of prenatal gonadal hormones in the patterning of sexual behavior after the attainment of adulthood (9, 33, 329). Presumptive evidence that such an organizing action
is a part of the development of sexuality in lower vertebrates is cited in
the present discussion (Section IX). The suggestion is made here that
the universal occurrence of dimorphism in the responsiveness of adults
to estrogens and androgens and some of the ambisexual behavior may be
consequences of this action during the embryonic and fetal period.
Available data in the form of records of sex reversal in adult fishes,
amphibians, and birds (397-400, 425-428) suggest that there is a greater
plasticity in these phyla than in mammals and that in mammals the
action of fetal gonadal hormones is more decisive. Psychiatrists and
others would question this suggestion (see e.g., 6, 8, 34-36). If they are
correct, this would be another example of the "intrusion" of psychologic
influences mentioned above. Data obtained from investigations of fishes,
reptiles, and birds (57, 62, 101, 104, 112, 120, 186, 193, 194, 241, 429)
suggest that the degree of specificity to estrogens and androgens may be
less in members of these phyla than in mammals. Again, however, the
suggestion has been made for man that androgens increase the sexual
desire in the human female even more than estrogens
(430-438).
A third example of an evolutionary change that may have taken
place is in the degree of specificity to hormonal action within the individuals of a species and sex. Limited but carefully gathered data reveal
that progesterone is quite highly specific in its estrus-inducing action in
the female guinea pig (439, 440). The various estrogens and androgens
should be tested similarly, as they have in the case of many tissue
reactions.
A last subject has to do with the many similarities of the relationship