The Effects of Perinatal Androgen Deprivation on Locomotor Activity in Male Rats
April 2015
in “
The FASEB Journal
”
TLDR Blocking androgens in male rats increased estrogen and made them more active.
The study investigated the effects of perinatal androgen deprivation on estrogen levels and locomotor activity in male Long-Evans rats. A total of 37 rats were divided into two groups, with one group receiving flutamide (FLU) to block androgen receptors during the perinatal period, while the other served as a control. On postnatal day 65, these groups were further divided into subgroups receiving finasteride, letrozole, or a vehicle. The study found that rats treated with FLU had higher serum estrogen levels and exhibited increased locomotor activity, spending more time in the center of an open field apparatus. This suggested that elevated estrogen levels due to androgen deprivation might enhance exploratory behavior.