Development of feminine sexual behavior in the rat: androgenic and temporal influences

The contributions of prenatal and postnatal androgen exposure upon the development of sexual behavior in rats were examined by prenatal treatment of pups with an androgen antagonist (flutamide) and postnatal androgenization or castration. Male and female rats were exposed to the androgen receptor-blocker flutamide (FLU) in utero via prenatal injections to the mother on Days 10 through 22 of gestation. At birth (Day 1) males were castrated. Both males and females were injected with either 100 micrograms testosterone propionate (TP) or oil on Day 1. In adulthood all gonadectomized animals were tested for the display of feminine sexual behavior (lordosis) in response to a range of estrogen dosages. Prenatal exposure to FLU enhanced lordosis in both sexes when compared to vehicle-treated controls. Postnatal TP treatment decreased lordotic potential as expected. However, in animals given TP postnatally, those receiving prenatal flutamide had higher lordosis quotients than animals receiving vehicle treatment. These data confirm (1) that the development of feminine sexual behavior is inhibited by androgen exposure, (2) that such exposure occurs prenatally, (3) that the potential for feminine behavioral differentiation occurs prenatally as well as postnatally, and (4) that androgen acts perinatally to affect estrogen sensitivity in adulthood.