Pre- or postnatal testosterone and flutamide effects on sexually dimorphicnuclei of the rat hypothalamus

Utilizing the sexually dimorphic nature of hypothalamic nuclei, a determina tion of the effects of pre- or postnatal flutamide and testosterone treatme nts were examined in male and female rats. Statistical analysis compared tr eatments, sex, and time of injection in terms of the sexually dimorphic nuc leus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA) and the anteroventral periventricular n ucleus (AVPV) volumes and lengths. The present findings establish that pre- or postnatal hormonal environments are crucial in influencing sexual morph ology on the developing brain. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights re served.