Erskine M S, Baum M J
J Endocrinol. 1984 Feb;100(2):161-6. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1000161.
The concentrations of oestradiol and oestrone in peripheral plasma of male and female ferrets 5 days before and 7, 15 and 30 days after birth were measured. Both steroids were present in high concentrations prenatally. Much lower levels were found in samples collected on day 7 and later, when the concentrations were similar to those of adult gonadectomized animals. No significant sex difference was seen for the concentration of either steroid at any age studied. These results, and those previously reported showing the absence of a circulating binding protein and the presence of oestradiol receptors in the hypothalamus in the perinatal period in this species, suggest that brains of both males and females are exposed to significant amounts of oestrogen during development. These findings lend support to the possibility that prenatal exposure to oestrogen plays a role in organizing the potential for female behaviour in male and female ferrets.
测定了出生前5天以及出生后7天、15天和30天的雄性和雌性雪貂外周血浆中雌二醇和雌酮的浓度。两种类固醇在产前浓度都很高。在出生后第7天及以后采集的样本中发现其水平要低得多，此时的浓度与成年去性腺动物的浓度相似。在所研究的任何年龄，两种类固醇的浓度均未观察到显著的性别差异。这些结果，以及之前报道的该物种围产期下丘脑不存在循环结合蛋白且存在雌二醇受体的结果，表明雄性和雌性雪貂的大脑在发育过程中都暴露于大量雌激素。这些发现支持了产前暴露于雌激素在雄性和雌性雪貂中对雌性行为潜力的组织作用中发挥作用的可能性。
