Antihormonal treatment during early development affects sexual function and behavior in male rats

The effects of early applied antihormones on different behavioral and physi ological aspects of sexuality were investigated in male Wistar rats. Animal s were pre- and perinatally treated with flutamide in a preliminary experim ent, and postnatally treated with flutamide or tamoxifen in a second trial. The precopulatory and copulatory behavior patterns of each male in the pre sence of an estrus-induced female were video recorded and analyzed. Genital development was estimated by weight of the testes, seminal vesicle, prosta te and preputial gland. Total testosterone levels were determined by RIA. M ale precopulatory behavior was not diminished by treatment suggesting the i ndependence of androgen and estrogen levels during the perinatal critical p eriod. Postnatal flutamide treatment led to decreased testosterone levels i n adults. In contrast, copulatory behavior and sexual development were impa ired in all the treatment groups. The heterotypical behavior and socio-sexu al interactions also observed were affected by the prenatal presence of flu tamide.