Stimulatory effects of 5β-dihydrotestosterone on the sexual behavior in the domestic chick

J. Balthazart, G. Malacarne, P. Deviche

Risultato della ricerca: Contributo su rivistaArticolo in rivistapeer review

Abstract

During in vitro incubations, brain tissues of chicks transform testosterone mainly into 5β-reduced androgens including 5β-dihydrotestosterone (β-DHT). Although β-DHT is generally believed to have no androgenic effects, we showed recently that it stimulates sexual behavior in young chicks during hand thrust tests. This result was confirmed during three experiments presented here and the possible interactions of β-DHT with the endogenous sex steroids have been analyzed. There is no synergism between β-DHT and estradiol in the induction of sexual behavior in the chicks. β-DHT is still partly active in chicks injected with the antiandrogen, cyproterone acetate in doses sufficient to block all action of the endogenous testosterone. β-DHT is also active in castrated chicks. The effects of β-DHT on the sexual behavior thus do not seem to depend on an interaction with other sex steroids and the reasons why it is active in chicks during hand thrust tests and not in other test situations in other birds are briefly discussed.

Lingua originaleInglese
pagine (da-a)246-258
Numero di pagine13
RivistaHormones and Behavior
Volume15
Numero di pubblicazione3
DOI
Stato di pubblicazionePubblicato - set 1981
Pubblicato esternamente

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