Evidence implicating aromatization of testosterone in the regulation of male ferret sexual behavior

We compared the effects of the aromatase inhibitor, 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione (ATD) and castration on the expression of mating behavior in adult male ferrets which were in breeding condition. Males implanted SC with Silastic capsules containing ATD displayed significantly less neck gripping, mounting and intromittive behavior than intact males which received empty capsules, although the ATD-induced reductions in behavior were not as large as those seen after castration. ATD had no effect on mating behavior in castrated males. As reported in another publication, brain aromatase activity was significantly reduced in both the intact and castrated males treated with ATD in the present study. Plasma estradiol (E2) levels were uniformly low in intact and castrated males, regardless of whether they received ATD or no steroid. As expected, plasma testosterone (T) levels were significantly lower in castrated than in intact males, and ATD treatment did not affect these values. These results suggest that E2 formed via the neural aromatization of T contributes to the activation of masculine sexual behavior in intact male ferrets in breeding condition.