PERINATAL STEROID TREATMENTS ALTER ALLOPARENTAL AND AFFILIATIVE BEHAVIOR IN PRAIRIE VOLES

This experiment was designed to examine the hypothesis that perinatal manipulation of gonadal or adrenal steroids can alter the subsequent e xpression of juvenile parental (alloparenting) and affiliative behavio r in prairie votes (Microtus ochrogaster). Corticosterone (PRECORT), t estosterone (PRE-TP), or oil injections (PRESES) were given on Prenata l Days 12-20 or on Postnatal Days 1-6 (CORT6, TP6, or SES6, respective ly). Alloparenting was reduced significantly in females in the CORT6 g roup and in males in the TP6 group. Sibling affiliative preferences we re increased significantly in PRE-TP females and stranger preferences were increased in TP6 and CORT6 females. The results suggest timing is a critical factor determining whether hormones have a facilitative or inhibitory effect on alloparental and affiliative behavior in prairie voles. In this species, corticosterone and testosterone have similar organizational effects on affiliative behavior in females. Alloparenta l behavior is inhibited by postnatal corticosterone administration in females and by postnatal testosterone administration in males, whereas prenatal steroid administration had no significant effect on allopare nting in either gender. (C) 1996 Academic Press.