Testosterone improves maze performance and induces development of a male hippocampus in females.
In a combined behavioral and morphometric study, we observed a testosterone-related sexual dimorphism in the granule cell layer of the hippocampus of Sprague-Dawley rats that appears to be related to sex differences in spatial performance. This cell layer was larger and laterally asymmetrical in males. Neonatal testosterone treatment of females resulted in a more male-like hippocampus. These treated females also performed better than controls, and as well as males, on a spatial navigation task. In addition, a strong correlation between the size of granule cell layers and maze performance was detected.
Roof
R L
RL
Department of Psychology, University of Wyoming, Laramie 82071.
Havens
M D
MD
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013037:Spatial Behavior; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014743:Videotape Recording
D013739:Testosterone