Effects of perinatal picrotoxin and sexual experience on heterosexual and homosexual behavior in male rats.
The effects of perinatal picrotoxin (0.75 mg/kg) on heterosexual and homosexual behavior of male rats, sexually experienced or not, were studied. The following data were obtained: (1) at birth, body weight and anogenital distance were not modified by the treatment; (2) during lactation, both treatment and sex interfered with body weight as well as in adult age; (3) as experimental animals were trained, the heterosexual behavior was improved; (4) picrotoxin treatment reduced lordotic response of homosexual behavior in inexperienced male rats and (5) the heterosexual experience with female rats inhibited homosexual behavior of both experimental and control animals. These results suggest that perinatal maternal picrotoxin exposure improved heterosexual behavior in male rats and the sexual experience reveals this effect. In addition, picrotoxin did not induce feminization in experimental inexperienced rats. Finally, the sexual experience per se promotes changes in brain regions related to male behavioral and sexual aspects.
Teodorov
Elizabeth
E
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Salzgeber
Simone Angelica
SA
Felicio
Luciano F
LF
Varolli
Franci M F
FM
Bernardi
Maria Martha
MM
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000633:toxicity*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D008297:Male; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012737:Sex Factors; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*
D018756:GABA Antagonists; D010852:Picrotoxin