Alteration of sex-typical behaviour of hamsters in open field and emergence tests by neo-natal administration of androgen or oestrogen
1967; Elsevier BV; Volume: 15; Issue: 2-3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0003-3472(67)90001-2
ISSN1095-8282
Autores Tópico(s)Circadian rhythm and melatonin
ResumoFemale hamsters ambulate more in the open field and emerge more quickly from a box than males. An attempt was made to determine whether these behavioural sex differences can be influenced by the presence of certain steroid hormones at a critical period of development. Hamsters of both sexes were given a single dose of either 300 μg testosterone propionate or 150 μg oestradiol benzoate on the second day of life; control animals received the oil medium only. Oestrous cycles failed to appear in either androgen or oestrogen treated females, and their ovaries did not contain corpora lutea. Their behaviour in both the open field and the emergence test was similar to that of males. The behaviour of males was not affected by either hormone. Comparison with results from previous experiments suggests that early handling may increase ambulation in both sexes. It may be concluded that in the hamster the presence of androgens or oestrogens during the neonatal period acts on the developing CNS so that when adult, not only gonadotrophin secretion, but also behaviour not directly associated with copulation follows the male pattern.
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