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Variation in reproductive traits is associated with short anogenital distance in female rats
Author(s) -
Zehr Julia L.,
Gans Susan E.,
McClintock Martha K.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.1017
Subject(s) - anogenital distance , estrous cycle , palpation , biology , physiology , pregnancy , endocrinology , medicine , fetus , in utero , genetics , surgery
Abstract Anogenital distance was used as a biomarker for natural variation in prenatal androgenization of female rats and was associated with individual differences in a suite of reproductive characteristics. Females with short anogenital distances were likely to have first vaginal estrus earlier than females with longer anogenital distances and to have first vaginal estrus on the same day as vaginal opening. In young adulthood, females with short anogenital distances had shorter ovarian cycles and less intense lordosis reflexes in response to manual palpation than those with longer anogenital distances, but only when living individually, not in groups. Taken together, these findings indicate that prenatal androgenization affects reproductive traits throughout the life span. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 38: 229–238, 2001