Effects of perinatal picrotoxin and sexual experience on heterosexual and homosexual behavior in male rats
Tipo
Artigo
Data de publicação
2002
Periódico
Neurotoxicology and Teratology
Citações (Scopus)
14
Autores
Teodorov E.
Salzgeber S.A.
Felicio L.F.
Varolli F.M.F.
Bernardi M.M.
Salzgeber S.A.
Felicio L.F.
Varolli F.M.F.
Bernardi M.M.
Orientador
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ISSN da Revista
Título de Volume
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Resumo
The effects of perinatal picrotoxin (0.75 mg/kg) on heterosexual and homosexual behavior of male rats, sexually experienced or not, were studied. The following data were obtained: (1) at birth, body weight and anogenital distance were not modified by the treatment; (2) during lactation, both treatment and sex interfered with body weight as well as in adult age; (3) as experimental animals were trained, the heterosexual behavior was improved; (4) picrotoxin treatment reduced lordotic response of homosexual behavior in inexperienced male rats and (5) the heterosexual experience with female rats inhibited homosexual behavior of both experimental and control animals. These results suggest that perinatal maternal picrotoxin exposure improved heterosexual behavior in male rats and the sexual experience reveals this effect. In addition, picrotoxin did not induce feminization in experimental inexperienced rats. Finally, the sexual experience per se promotes changes in brain regions related to male behavioral and sexual aspects. © 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Inc.