title: Sex-specific modulation of anxiety and locomotion after neonatal exposure to pregnenolone sulfate.
abstract: Neurosteroids may influence adult behavior and endocrine function since early in development. To test this hypothesis, Sprague-Dawley pups from both sexes were injected with pregnenolone sulfate (PREG-S) from postnatal (PN) day 1 to 14. Pubertal onset in females was determined by monitoring the day of vaginal opening. After vaginal opening, the pattern of estrous cycle was monitored for three consecutive cycles. During adulthood, anxiety and locomotor activity were assessed with an automated elevated plus maze (EPM) and automated activity monitors, respectively. After behavioral assessment, body weight, gonadal weight, and plasma levels of sex hormones were measured. Neonatal exposure to PREG-S produced anxiolytic effects in females but not males. The opposite effect was seen in males, suppression of locomotor behaviors without changes in anxiety. The day of vaginal opening, gonadal weight, and plasma levels of hormones in adult animals were not altered by neonatal treatment. We suggest that PREG-S exposure during neonatal development can have an impact in anxiety and locomotor behaviors during adulthood in a sex-specific manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936, USA. jcjorge@rcm.upr.edu
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jorge
authors.forename: Loida
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Azarhí
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fortis
authors.forename: Nelson D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Cruz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development; D014621:Vagina / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D011284:Pregnenolone