THE EFFECTS OF PRENATAL STRESS ON THE LEVELS OF 5 ALPHA REDUCTASE AND AROMATASE ACTIVITY IN PREGNANT RATS AND THEIR MALE AND FEMALE OFFSPRING

Authors

Steve Warren David, Brigham Young University
Dr. Reuben Ward Rhees, Brigham Young University

Keywords

prenatal stress, testosterone, pregnant rats, 5 alpha reductase

College

Life Sciences

Department

Physiology and Developmental Biology

Abstract

Sexual differentiation of the brain is dependent on the presence or absence of androgen (testosterone) during prenatal development. Exposure to testosterone is essential for masculinization and defeminization of sexual behavior, and brain structural development. Present evidence suggests that the action of testosterone during brain development involves the metabolic conversion of testosterone in one of two ways. Testosterone is either converted to estradiol by the enzyme aromatase or to dihydrotestosterone by the enzyme 5 alpha reductase. Testosterone and these two metabolites interact to regulate sexual differentiation of the brain. This project monitored the activity of both aromatase and 5 alpha reductase in stressed pregnant rats and their offspring. We determined the significance of stress on the activity of these two enzymes.

Recommended Citation

David, Steve Warren and Rhees, Dr. Reuben Ward (2013) "THE EFFECTS OF PRENATAL STRESS ON THE LEVELS OF 5 ALPHA REDUCTASE AND AROMATASE ACTIVITY IN PREGNANT RATS AND THEIR MALE AND FEMALE OFFSPRING," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 1478.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1478