The Effects of Diethylstilbestrol (DES) before Birth on the Development of Masculine Behavior in Juvenile Female Rhesus Monkeys

Abstract

Eight pregnant rhesus monkeys were injected with 100 μg diethylstilbestrol dipropionate (DESDP) from the 40th day of gestation until term, a long-term treatment. Male (n= 3) and female (n= 5) offspring were obtained. Five other pregnant females were injected with DESDP beginning on the 115th day of gestation and continuing until either the 140th day or term—a relatively short-term treatment. Five female infants were obtained from these short-term treatments. Monkeys from the treated pregnancies were assigned randomly to mother–infant social groups containing untreated male and female infants the same age. They were observed in their peer groups each weekday from 3 to 12 months of age, and the display of mounting and play behavior was recorded for each subject. Results showed that DESDP significantly increased the frequency of display of these juvenile behaviors only in long-term-treated females. However, one of the aspects of mounting that is characteristic of males (the ratio of complete to abortive mounts) was unaffected even by the long-term treatment. Thus, DESDP-treated females displayed a limited behavioral masculinization. Whether this limitation was due to dosage and/or timing or to a selective action of DESDP was not determined. DESDP-treated males were not altered in any measurable way compared to untreated males.