Transgenerational effect of a single neonatal benzpyrene treatment (imprinting) on the sexual behavior of adult female rats.

Male and female rats were neonatally treated with a single dose of benzpyrene. The adult animals were mated inter se, forming control-control, benzpyrene (female)-control, benzpyrene (male)-control, and benzpyrene-benzpyrene treated couples. In the F1 and F2 generations (without any further treatment) the females's sexual behavior was tested to Meyerson index and lordosis quotient after ovariectomy and hormone treatment, using experienced males. In the F1 generation both indices were significantly reduced in the maternally treated, paternally untreated groups, however this reduction was not present in the group where the treatment was maternal and paternal alike. In the F2 generation, beside the more expressed reduction in the grandmaternally treated group, a moderate reduction in the sexual activity of progenies having treated grandfather or two treated grandparents were observed. The experiment call attention to the transgenerational sexual behavioral effect of a dangerous environment pollutant, benzpyrene.