Abstract
The play-fighting of juvenile rats is a sexually dimorphic behavior which is influenced by the organizational actions of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone but is not dependent on activational influences of these testicular hormones. To delimit more precisely the temporal period in early development when these organizational effects are expressed, male rats were castrated 1, 6, 10 or 20 days after birth and their play behavior was compared to that of intact males and females. Daily observations were made of groups of 6–7 animals from 31–40 days of age. Intact males engaged in rough play more frequently than females and also initiated more play bouts. Castration at day 10 or 20 did not affect play in males, but castration on day 1 or 6 reduced male play to levels that were not reliably different from females. The development of social play depends on the presence of testicular androgens for at least 6 days after birth.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
