Effects of impaired testosterone metabolism during prenatal ontogenesis on the level of anxiety and behavior of rats in a novel environment.

The effects of administration of the aromatase inhibitor 1,4,6-androstatrien-3.17-dione (ATD) to female rats during the last third of pregnancy on the formation of behavior of offspring of both genders in a novel environment were studied. Animal behavior was assessed in the open field and elevated cross maze tests. Inhibition of testosterone aromatization during the prenatal period of development resulted in increases in anxiety and emotionality in experimental rats at age one month; increases in these measures in adult animals were seen in both males and females exposed to prenatal ATD. Intergender differences between control males and experimental females, in terms of behavioral measures in the novel environment such as motor activity, the duration of the freezing and grooming reactions, as well as well the level of anxiety, disappeared. It is concluded that impairment of testosterone metabolism during the prenatal period of development affects the formation of the behavior of rats in a novel environment as determined by genetic gender.