PERINATAL ADMINISTRATION OF TESTOSTERONE INDUCES HYPERTROPHY OF THE ANTERIOR COMMISSURE IN ADULT MALE AND FEMALE RATS

A possible sex difference in the mean saggital area of the anterior co mmissure (AC) was investigated in normal, newborn-castrated, and perin atally-androgenized rats. A second experiment included castrated adult rats from each sex exposed to testosterone twelve days before sacrifi ce. In normal rats, as well as in those exposed to testosterone as adu lts, no quantitative difference was found in the AC. However, perinata l exposure to testosterone induced a 20-25% increase in the mean area of the AC of rats from each sex. It is proposed that gonadal sex stero ids may have a reciprocal influence upon the structure of central olfa ctory pathways, due to the influences of the main olfactory system upo n gonadotropin secretion. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Irela nd Ltd.