The aromatase inhibitor, 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione (ATD), blocks testosterone-induced olfactory behaviour in the hamster.

The effect of ATD on olfactory investigation in intact and in castrated, testosterone-treated male hamsters was studied using subcutaneous silastic implants. In intact males, there was a dose-dependent action of ATD in reducing sniffing towards novel females and in eliminating the discrimination between females after pre-exposure to vaginal odour. Both sniffing and olfactory discrimination reappeared after removal of ATD implants. Neither the weight nor the general behavioural activity of treated males was affected, indicating a specific behavioural affect. Testosterone (T) maintained olfactory behaviour in castrated males. Untreated castrates and castrates with ATD + T implants showed reduced sniffing and showed no discrimination between females after exposure to female odour. We conclude that conversion of T to oestrogen plays an essential role in the control of male olfactory behaviour.