Prenatal amphetamine exposure: ovulation, sexual behavior and hypothalamic monoamine content in rats

Previous observations have pointed out that amphetamine treatment during pregnancy produces behavioral and neurochemical changes in the male offspring. The present study was undertaken in order to determine whether those findings could be extended to sexual behavior, reproductive function and hypothalamic monoamine metabolism in female rats. It was found that offspring of amphetamine treated rats have greater sensitivity to estrogen and estrogen-progesterone for the induction of sexual receptivity. 5-HT content in medial hypothalamus of estrogen-progesterone treated rats was decreased with respect to controls. On the other hand the content of 5-HIAA was not different; noradrenaline levels in hypothalamus were also normal. Sex cycle duration and ovulatory phenomena were not affected.