Baum M J, Erskine M S
Endocrinology. 1984 Dec;115(6):2440-4. doi: 10.1210/endo-115-6-2440.
Male ferrets castrated on postnatal day 5 displayed significantly lower levels of neck gripping, mounting, and pelvic thrusting behavior than groups of males castrated on postnatal days 20 or 35 when tested in adulthood after treatment with testosterone (T). Administering a high dosage of T via sc Silastic capsules to ovariectomized female ferrets over postnatal days 5-20 caused a significant enhancement of all three parameters of masculine coital behavior and ossification of clitorides, in comparison with control females that received no exogenous hormone neonatally. A lower dosage of T given to other ovariectomized females over the same neonatal period caused only slight coital masculinization even though the plasma concentrations of T achieved in females with this particular implant were somewhat higher than the levels normally present in gonadally intact male ferrets at any time between postnatal days 5 and 40. Administration of high and low dosages of T to ovariectomized females over days 20-35 failed to cause any coital or genital masculinization. The results suggest that T acts in the male ferret brain between postnatal days 5 and 20 to cause coital masculinization. The sensitivity of the male brain to T during this period may, however, normally be enhanced by the action of T or some other hormone before day 5.
出生后第5天进行阉割的雄性雪貂，在成年后接受睾酮（T）治疗进行测试时，与出生后第20天或35天进行阉割的雄性雪貂组相比，其颈部抓握、骑跨和骨盆前推行为水平显著降低。在出生后第5 - 20天，通过皮下植入硅橡胶胶囊给去卵巢的雌性雪貂施用高剂量的T，与出生时未接受外源性激素的对照雌性相比，导致雄性交配行为的所有三个参数显著增强，并且阴蒂骨化。在同一新生期给其他去卵巢雌性施用较低剂量的T，即使通过这种特定植入物在雌性中达到的T血浆浓度略高于出生后第5天至40天之间任何时间性腺完整的雄性雪貂中正常存在的水平，也仅导致轻微的交配雄性化。在出生后第20 - 35天给去卵巢雌性施用高剂量和低剂量的T均未能引起任何交配或生殖器雄性化。结果表明，T在出生后第5天至20天之间作用于雄性雪貂大脑，导致交配雄性化。然而，在此期间雄性大脑对T的敏感性通常可能在第5天之前受到T或其他一些激素的作用而增强。
