| Abstract: | The brain noradrenaline system and its involvement in the control of the hypothalamic-hypophysial-gonadal complex were studied on 3 month old Wistar rats, which descended from the mothers treated with testosterone propionate on the 16th and 18th day of pregnancy. A season-independent weakening of the activating effect of noradrenaline, introduced into the brain lateral ventricle on the estradiol and testosterone content of the peripheral blood has been shown, compared with the descendants of the mothers treated with oil at the same times of pregnancy. Unlike noradrenaline, the intraventricular introduction of serotonin or dopamine was accompanied by a similar activation of the hypophysial-gonadal system in the descendants from both the androgenized and control mothers. In the descendants from the former, the thermal reaction to the intraventricular introduction of noradrenaline underwent changes as well. A conclusion is reached that testosterone propionate, introduced during the prenatal period, exerts a long-term and to a certain extent, selective and generalized effect on the developing brain noradrenaline system. In the rats, the critical period for the disturbance in androgen balance influence on the noradrenaline mechanisms of brain is timed to no later than the 18th day of prenatal development. |
