Adult partner preference and sexual behavior of male rats exposed prenatally to betamethasone
Open accessAbstract
The aim of this study was to investigate long-term effects of prenatal betamethasone exposure on sexual partner preference, testosterone level, and sexual behavior. Pregnant rats received 0.1 mg/kg of betamethasone or saline on the 12th, 13th, 18th, and 19th days of pregnancy. Parameters in male offspring were evaluated at 90 days of age. Male rats from the betamethasone group did not show any difference in sexual partner preference as expressed by the total number of visits to the female or male zone. However, these males spent significantly less total time and shorter duration per visit in the female zone than their controls. Therefore, prenatal exposure to betamethasone led to a significantly lower sexual female partner preference score compared to the control group. These animals also presented diminished testosterone levels in adulthood. Prenatal exposure to betamethasone induced a delay in the latency to first ejaculation, as well as a decrease in the numbers of postejaculatory intromissions, total intromissions and total ejaculations. Although 80% of the betamethasone-treated animals exhibited male sexual behavior, when they were castrated and pretreated with estrogen, 50% of them showed lordosis and accepted mounts of another sexually experienced male. These results suggest that the prenatal treatment with betamethasone, by increasing maternal corticosteroid level, may have diminished testosterone peak in male pups, a peak crucial to brain sexual differentiation. As a consequence, the prenatal betamethasone treatment reduced the testosterone level in adulthood and altered partner preference and sexual behavior.
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In rodents, a critical window of study is between GD 12 and GD 19.
“In rodents, a critical window of study is between GD 12 to GD 1998–100.”
From Emerging insights into hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis regulation and interaction with stress signalling (2018) · cites this paper as [100]
Section 2.2 (page not available) reports treatment of pregnant rats on GD 12, 13, 18, and 19, with the later course timed to brain sexual differentiation. The Introduction identifies GD 18–19 as a marked testosterone-surge period in male rats. The paper does not describe GD 12–19 as one continuous critical window or establish that window for rodents generally. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThese findings demonstrate that glucocorticoid exposure impacts the masculinization process of the hypothalamus.
“These findings demonstrate the impact of glucocorticoid exposure on the masculinization process of the hypothalamus.”
From Emerging insights into hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis regulation and interaction with stress signalling (2018) · cites this paper as [100]
The Discussion (in the paper’s pp. 163–167) links prenatal betamethasone exposure to altered sexual behavior in male rats and says the results “suggest an incomplete masculinization and defeminization of the hypothalamus.” The citing sentence’s “demonstrate” is stronger than that qualified conclusion; the paper does not establish the hypothalamic mechanism directly. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAdult males exposed in utero to betamethasone showed changes in serum T concentrations, sperm production, and sexual preference.
“Piffer et al. observed changes in serum T concentrations, sperm production and sexual preference of adult males following intrauterine betamethasone exposure100.”
From Emerging insights into hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis regulation and interaction with stress signalling (2018) · cites this paper as [100]
The Abstract reports lower adult testosterone levels and reduced female-partner preference in male rats exposed prenatally to betamethasone; Section 3.3 confirms the testosterone reduction in plasma. The paper reports changes in ejaculation and other sexual behaviors, but does not report a measure of sperm production, so that part of the claim is unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredDuring GD 12 to GD 19, important fetal developmental changes occur, including gonadogenesis, establishment of the HPG axis, and morphogenesis of reproductive ducts and glands.
“During this period of intrauterine growth, important changes in fetal development are occurring, such as the gonadogenesis, the establishment of the HPG axis and the morphogenesis of reproductive ducts and glands (epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicle and prostate)98–100.”
From Emerging insights into hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis regulation and interaction with stress signalling (2018) · cites this paper as [100]
The Introduction (page not specified) identifies gestational days 18–19 as a fetal testosterone-surge period important to sexual differentiation, and Methods §2.2 says treatment on days 18–19 coincided with brain sexual differentiation. Our copy does not say that gonadogenesis, establishment of the HPG axis, or morphogenesis of the listed reproductive ducts and glands occurs during GD 12–19. (LLM, conf=0.84)
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- Authors
- Piffer, R. C., Garcia, P. C., & Pereira, O. C. M.
- Affiliations
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) (BR)
- Corresponding author
- Pereira, Oduvaldo C.M.
- ORCID
- Garcia, Patrícia C.
- Venue
- Physiology & Behavior
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-08
- Volume
- 98
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 163-167
- ISSN
- 0031-9384 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2016900265
- Cited by
- 32
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Physiology & Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Acervo Digital da Universidade Estadual Paulista (Universidade Estadual Paulista) (submittedVersion)
- UNESP Institutional Repository (São Paulo State University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (06/57038-6)
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
- Universidade Estadual Paulista
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Keywords
- glucocorticoid exposure, sexual partner preference, male sexual behavior, testosterone levels, sexual differentiation of the brain, lordosis, castration, estrogen pretreatment, maternal corticosteroids, adult rats
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Anal Canal, Betamethasone, Body Weight, Copulation, Ejaculation, Female, Genitalia, Male, Orchiectomy, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Sex Differentiation, Testosterone, Rats, Wistar, Rats
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