Effects of prenatal and neonatal androgen on estrous cyclicity and attractiveness of female hamsters

Abstract

The influence of prenatal (2 mg testosterone propionate (TP) on days 12–15 of gestation) and neonatal (200 μg TP, 24–36 hr after birth) androgenization on the behavioral estrous cyclicity, genital morphology and attractiveness of female hamster was investigated. Ninety-seven percent of control animals exhibited normal 4-day estrous cyclicity, whereas only 64% of the prenatally and 33% of the neonatally androgenized females had 4-day cycles. Prenatal TP treated females had significantly longer ano-genital distances than neonatal TP treated females. Both groups of androgenized females had longer ano-genital distances than their respective control groups. Sexually experienced male hamsters spent significantly more time investigating anesthetized oil-treated control females than either prenatally or neonatally androgenized females. There was no significant difference in the attractivity of the two TP treated groups when compared to each other. Similar results were obtained when the males were also administered olfactory preference tests. These results suggest that the development of sexual attractiveness in the female hamster can be influenced by the presence of androgen during the prenatal and neonatal period.