Specificity of neonatal, androgen-induced imprinting of hepatic steroid metabolism in rats.

The specificity of the neonatal, andreogen-induced, irreversible programming of hepatic steroid metabolism in the rat was investigated. 5-alpha-Dihydrotestosterone propionate and estradiol benzoate were as efficient as testosterone propionate in inducing a male type of liver metabolism in the adult animal, whereas epitestosterone propionate, etiocholanolone propionate, and o,p'-DDT were practically inactive in this respect. These findings indicate that different mechanisms are involved in neonatal imprinting of hepatic steroid metabolism and in the well-known neonatal androgenic and estrogenic induction of persistent estrus and acyclic gonadotropin secreqion.