MASCULINIZATION OF FEMALE RATS BY INTRACRANIAL IMPLANTATION OF ANDROGEN IN INFANCY

TESTED CURRENT IDEAS CONCERNING SEXUAL DIFFERENTIATION OF THE BRAIN BY IMPLANTING MINUTE AMOUNTS OF CRYSTALLINE TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE (TP) IN THE BRAINS OF 210 5-DAY-OLD FEMALE RATS. 12.5 MUG. TP SUPPRESSED FEMALE MATING AND OVULATION AND AUGMENTED MALE MATING; 1.25-1.67 MUG. TP INHIBITED ONLY OVULATION, PRODUCING PERSISTENT VAGINAL CORNIFICATION AND CONTINUOUS RECEPTIVITY. HISTOLOGICAL DATA IMPLICATED THE BASAL PORTION OF THE BRAIN IN THE PERMANENT INHIBITION OF OVULATION. RESULTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE HYPOTHESIS THAT SUPPRESSION OF FEMALE PATTERNS OF GONADOTROPHIN SECRETION AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOR BY NEONATAL ANDROGEN OCCURS THROUGH AN ACTION OF ANDROGEN ON THE BRAIN. (15 REF.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1968 American Psychological Association.