Prenatal stress feminizes juvenile play patterns in male rats

Ward, Ingeborg L.; Stehm, Kathleen E.

doi:10.1016/0031-9384(91)90552-y

Cited by 125Sexual Differentiation and DisordersNeuroendocrine regulation and behaviorStress Responses and Cortisol

Prenatal stress feminizes juvenile play patterns in male rats

Ward, Ingeborg L., Stehm, Kathleen E.·1991·Physiology & Behavior

DOI 10.1016/0031-9384(91)90552-y

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Abstract

Sexually dimorphic rough-and-tumble play patterns were compared in male and female rats derived from control mothers and mothers stressed from days 14-21 of pregnancy. Animals were weaned into groups of 8 consisting of 2 males and 2 females from each treatment. Play in the home cage was recorded at 25, 28, 31, 34, 37 and 45 days of age and was most intense on day 31. The overall level of play was significantly higher in control males than in females or stressed males. Control males showed higher levels of the pinning component of rough-and-tumble play than females or stressed males. No play partner preferences were detected in any group. In adulthood, a higher percentage of stressed than control males displayed the female lordotic pattern. No deficits in ejaculatory behavior occurred in the stressed males. Since maternal stress alters patterns of plasma testosterone in male fetuses, the data suggest that the sexual differentiation of social play begins during prenatal ontogeny in the rat. The present results show that sexually dimorphic behaviors displayed before puberty are incompletely masculinized in prenatally stressed males, a finding similar to that reported for a number of adult behaviors.

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The available evidence suggests that the critical period for differentiation of play begins late in gestation and continues through PND10.
“the available evidence suggests that the critical period for the differentiation of play begins late in gestation and continues through PND10 (Meaney et al. 1983; Ward and Stehm 1991).”
From Perinatal Exposure to Low Levels of the Environmental Antiandrogen Vinclozolin Alters Sex-Differentiated Social Play and Sexual Behaviors in the Rat (2005) · cites this paper as Ward and Stehm 1991
In rats, play ontogeny is characterized by an inverted U-shaped function peaking between PND32 and PND40.
“In rats, the ontogeny of play is characterized by an inverted U-shaped function that peaks between PND32 and PND40 (Panskeep 1980; Spear and Brake 1983; Ward and Stehm 1991).”
From Perinatal Exposure to Low Levels of the Environmental Antiandrogen Vinclozolin Alters Sex-Differentiated Social Play and Sexual Behaviors in the Rat (2005) · cites this paper as Ward and Stehm 1991

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Authors: Ward, I. L., & Stehm, K. E.
Affiliations: Villanova University (US)
Venue: Physiology & Behavior
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 1991-09
Volume: 50
Issue: 3
Pages: 601-605
ISSN: 0031-9384 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/0031-9384(91)90552-y
OpenAlex: W2010391369
Cited by: 125
References: 33
Citations by year: 2025: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 3
FWCI: 0.93
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Physiology & Behavior (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Institutes of Health (5k05mh000049-15, 5r01hd004688-23)
National Institute of Mental Health (2 KO5 MH00049)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD04688)
Topics: Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords: prenatal stress, maternal stress, rough-and-tumble play, sex differences, juvenile social behavior, lordosis, sexual differentiation, testosterone, masculinization, male rats
MeSH terms: Animals, Behavior, Animal, Ejaculation, Female, Male, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Rats, Inbred Strains, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Sexual Maturation, Stress, Psychological, Testosterone, Rats

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Prenatal stress feminizes juvenile play patterns in male rats

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