Prenatal Androgenization Induces Anxiety-Like Behavior in Female Rats, Associated with Reduction of Inhibitory Interneurons and Increased BDNF in Hippocampus and Cortex

Figure 1

Open field and elevated plus maze activity in female offspring prenatally treated with testosterone undecanoate. Testosterone undecanoate (100 mg/kg, s.c.) was administered to female rats on gestational day 20 and their offspring was tested between postnatal days 70 and 85. Scores on elevated plus maze activity: (a) time spent in the open arms, (b) number of entries into the open arms, and (c) number of head dipping. Boxplots represent medians ± quartile range, n=12. Scores on open field activity: (a) time spent in the center, (b) number of entries into the center, and (c) total ambulatory distance. Bars represent means ± SD values, n=12. The significance of the difference was estimated by Mann-Whitney U test or one-way ANOVA, respectively (p < 0.05). C, control group; T, testosterone group.