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Fig. 5 | Molecular Autism

Fig. 5

From: Developmental vitamin D deficiency increases foetal exposure to testosterone

Fig. 5

An illustration of the potential molecular mechanism and pathways involved in the exposure of developing foetus to increased testosterone. DVD-deficiency downregulates aromatase expression in male brains by increasing aromatase promoter methylation potentially increasing testosterone levels in male foetal brains. We further found that both testosterone and androstenedione were elevated in DVD-deficient female amniotic fluid which may be due to sex-specific effect of DVD-deficiency on androgen production in female embryonic ovaries or adrenal glands or a greater contribution from the increased testosterone levels in DVD-deficient dams. Dashed arrow represents hypothetical relevance of testosterone transfer

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