Neonatal androgenic stimulation and adult sexual behavior in male and female golden hamsters.

Neonatally and adult castrated male hamsters as well as neonatally androgenized and nonandrogenized female hamsters were tested for both mounting and lordosis behaviors during treatment with either testosterone or ovarian hormones. Neonatal androgenization facilitated mounting behavior in adult animals administered either testosterone or ovarian hormones and suppressed lordosis behavior in adult ovarian-hormone-treated animals. Early androgen effects on the display of lordosis behavior during adult testosterone treatment were complex and varied with the exact timing of perinatal endogenous or exogenous androgenization. Species differences in hormone-behavior relationships and the possible role of perinatal androgenization in the development of rodents' ability to aromatize androgens were discussed.