Alternative (backdoor) androgen production and masculinization in the human fetus
Fig 4
Levels of steroid intermediates involved in the canonical and backdoor synthesis of DHT in the testis and ovary as measured by GC-MS/MS.
Intra-gonadal steroid levels from 6 male and 4 female fetuses (aged 15–19 weeks) are shown as individual points in each graph and arranged in the pathways shown in Fig 1. Levels of 5αDHP were not measured in this part of the study. The number of samples which were ND for each steroid are shown. Data shown in gray were above the LOD but below the formal LOQ, which means that the quantified data shown for these samples are less reliable. Raw data are shown in S1 Data (Sheet 3). androstanediol, 5α-androstan-3α, 17β-diol; androstanedione, 5α-androstane-3,17-dione; androstenediol, androst-5-ene-3β,17β-diol; DHEA, dehydroepiandrosterone; DHT, dihydrotestosterone; F, female; GC-MS/MS, gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry; LC-HRMS, liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry; LOD, limit of detection; LOQ, limit of quantification; M, male; ND, nondetectable; 5αDHP, 5α-dihydroprogesterone; 17OHDHP, 17α-hydroxydihydroprogesterone.