Androgen and estradiol levels in plasma and amniotic fluid of late gestational male and female hamsters: Uterine position effects

Vomachka, Archie J.; Lisk, Robert D.

doi:10.1016/0018-506x(86)90016-4

Cited by 34 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…This result, however, is not in line with the observation in fetal rats that the presence of one or more males caudal to a female in the uterine horn results in partial masculinisation of behaviour later in life (35). Neither does it agree with the fact that in several polytocous (multiple birth) species aggressiveness among both males and females was found to be influenced by their prior intrauterine position (25,38,47). Although it is obvious that in several species some correlation exists between plasma testosterone concentrations and aggressive behaviour, the exact nature of the relationship is still unclear (8,42).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 52%

“…Female fetuses located in utero between two males, as adults appeared to be more aggressive to other females due to exposure to elevated titers of androgen during prenatal life, than females which as fetuses resided between two females (25,38,47). In a recent report, this intrauterine position phenomenon could not be confirmed in sexual behaviour in mice (13).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 72%

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Androgens, progestagens and agonistic behaviour: A review

Knol

Egberink‐Alink²

1989

Veterinary Quarterly

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SUMMARY The relationship between androgens, progestagens and agonistic behaviour is reviewed. Most literature concerned the effects of hormones on aggression; little information was available on hormonal influences on fear. Difference in aggression levels between males and females may be explained by assuming the existence of a gender difference in motivation, which, among other factors, is controlled by androgen and progestagen levels in peripheral blood.Androgens and progestagens are metabolised mainly by 5a-reductase in the target organs. In the brain, aromatisation of testosterone also plays a role. The metabolites of testosterone may exert the same organising and activating influence as testosterone on juvenile and adult brain tissue, respectively. In some animal species testosterone secretion appears to be influenced by social and environmental variables. Conversely, alterations in plasma androgen levels have been found to affect behaviour. Dominant and/or aggressive individuals tend to show higher plasma testosterone levels than submissive and/or less aggressive animals. Among other mechanisms, competitive inhibition of androgen action at a central level, by progestagens acting as antagonists of androgens, may be important.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 52%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Androgens, progestagens and agonistic behaviour: A review

Knol

Egberink‐Alink²

1989

Veterinary Quarterly

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…In ferrets, higher testosterone has been found in females with two caudal males than in females with one or none (17). In hamsters, androgen levels were lower and estradiol levels elevated in males with females located candally (29). Yet in fetal rats there is no evidence from hormone studies that testosterone levels diffevin any systematic way between females from different uterine positions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Plasma testosterone in fetal rats and their mothers on day 19 of gestation

Houtsmuller

Jong

Rowland

et al. 1995

Physiology & Behavior

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“…Amniotic level of testosterone was determined using radioimmunoassay (see below). This approach was based on evidence suggesting that steroid levels in amniotic fluid are in equilibrium with those in plasma [94], [95].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal Programming of Sexual Behavior and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Function in the Female Rat

et al. 2008

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Variations in parental care predict the age of puberty, sexual activity in adolescence and the age at first pregnancy in humans. These findings parallel descriptions of maternal effects on phenotypic variation in reproductive function in other species. Despite the prevalence of such reports, little is known about potential biological mechanisms and this especially true for effects on female reproductive development. We examined the hypothesis that parental care might alter hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian function and thus reproductive function in the female offspring of rat mothers that vary pup licking/grooming (LG) over the first week postpartum. As adults, the female offspring of Low LG mothers showed 1) increased sexual receptivity; 2) increased plasma levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and progesterone at proestrus; 3) an increased positive-feedback effect of estradiol on both plasma LH levels and gonadotropin releasing-hormone (GnRH) expression in the medial preoptic region; and 4) increased estrogen receptor α (ERα) expression in the anterioventral paraventricular nucleus, a system that regulates GnRH. The results of a cross-fostering study provide evidence for a direct effect of postnatal maternal care as well as a possible prenatal influence. Indeed, we found evidence for increased fetal testosterone levels at embryonic day 20 in the female fetuses of High compared to Low LG mothers. Finally, the female offspring of Low LG mothers showed accelerated puberty compared to those of High LG mothers. These data suggest maternal effects in the rat on the development of neuroendocrine systems that regulate female sexual behaviour. Together with studies revealing a maternal effect on the maternal behavior of the female offspring, these findings suggest that maternal care can program alternative reproductive phenotypes in the rat through regionally-specific effects on ERα expression.

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Androgen and estradiol levels in plasma and amniotic fluid of late gestational male and female hamsters: Uterine position effects

Cited by 34 publications

References 40 publications

Androgens, progestagens and agonistic behaviour: A review

Androgens, progestagens and agonistic behaviour: A review

Plasma testosterone in fetal rats and their mothers on day 19 of gestation

Maternal Programming of Sexual Behavior and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Function in the Female Rat

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