Evidence of proceptive without receptive defeminization in male ferrets.

The latencies of 71 gonadectomized male and female ferrets to approach and interact with a sexually active stimulus male were measured after subcutaneous (sc) administration of estradiol benzoate ([EB] 0, 5, 10, or 15 μg/kg) in adulthood. Receptive responsiveness to stud males was also assessed during additional tests. Control females gonadectomized on Postnatal Day 35 displayed a dose-dependent reduction in approach latencies to the stud male that did not occur in control males castrated on Day 35. The approach latencies of males castrated on Day 20 or Day 5 were intermediate between these 2 extremes. Equivalent dose-dependent reductions in approach latencies were observed in Ss ovariectomized on Day 5 and implanted sc with silastic capsules containing either no hormone or different doses of testosterone over Days 5–20 or 20–35. Equivalent dose-dependent increments in acceptance quotients were obtained in all groups following EB treatment. Results suggest that the capacity to display the proceptive, or appetitive, components of feminine sexual behavior is normally reduced in male ferrets as a consequence of the perinatal action of testicular hormones, whereas receptive behavioral capacity is retained in males of this species. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)