Steroidal interactions in the regulation of maternal behaviour in virgin female rats: effects of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, oestradiol, progesterone and the aromatase inhibitor, 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione.

The effects of exposure to concentrations of androgens, oestradiol (OE2) and progesterone similar to those found during pregnancy on the induction of maternal behaviour were investigated in female rats. In the first experiment the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) administered in combination with progesterone (using silicone elastomer capsules) on the induction of behavioural responsiveness towards young (crouching, retrieval and grouping of pups) were measured in ovariectomized virgin rats. Hormonally treated animals were exposed to testosterone or DHT from day 1 of treatment to the end of behavioural testing, while progesterone was administered for 10 days (days 3-13). Testing for maternal responsiveness began on day 14 and lasted until day 23. Significant reductions in latencies to show individual aspects of and complete maternal behaviour were found only in animals treated with a combination of testosterone and progesterone (range of mean latencies for showing one aspect of, to complete, maternal behaviour = 1.0-1.4 days). The mean latencies of the other hormonally treated animals ranged from 5 to 6 days and were similar to those of non-hormonally treated control rats. The second experiment examined the possibility that stimulation of maternal behaviour in animals given testosterone and progesterone resulted from the aromatization of testosterone to OE2. Ovariectomized virgin rats were implanted with capsules containing testosterone and other with the aromatase inhibitor, 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione (ATD) on day 1, and with progesterone capsules on day 3. Progesterone capsules were removed on day 13 and behavioural testing commenced on day 14. Treatment with testosterone and progesterone failed to stimulate maternal behaviour in rats treated with ATD. In a third study ovariectomized virgin rats were implanted with OE2 on day 1 and progesterone on day 3. The progesterone implants were removed on day 13 and testing began on day 14. Significant reductions in latencies to show all aspects of maternal behaviour were found in these rats. In a final study progesterone capsules remained in OE2- and progesterone-treated rats from day 3 until the completion of behavioural testing. The presence of progesterone implants throughout the test period (days 14-23) blocked the rapid onset of maternal responsiveness induced by removal of progesterone on day 13 shown in rats treated with OE2 plus progesterone in experiment 3. These data suggest that during gestation testosterone, through its conversion to OE2, synergizes with progesterone to help stimulate the development of the capacity of the female animal to respond maternally to young, a capacity unmasked by withdrawal of progesterone before parturition.