Single benzpyrene treatment of 5 week old male and female rats significantly decreased
their sexual activity at 3 months of age. Among the hormone preparations used nandrolone
was comparatively practically ineffective, while estradiol decreased the lordosis
quotient of females. In males benzpyrene produced a total failure of ejaculation.
These results draw attention to the wide time-scale of receptorine and behavioral
effects of the aromatic hydrocarbon, benzpyrene. These effects are detectable following
fetal, neonatal or pubertal treatments, especially in females. In males, the negative
effect was manifested after neonatal and pubertal treatments only. The experiments
suggest that in some cases hormonal imprinting does not develop solely in the perinatal
period but it might develop later.
Benzpyrene - Nandrolone - Estradiol - Hormonal Imprinting - Behaviour - Puberty
