ABSTRAKT

The changes in aromatase and 5α-reductase activities in the preoptic area (POA) and the medial basal hypothalamus of 10-day-old male rats, and sexual behavior of 3-month- old male rats, offsprings of females exposed to noradrenaline antagonist methyldopa (400 mg/kg per os) 30 minutes prior to 1-hour immobilization during the last week of pregnancy (daily, from 15^th to 21^st day) were studied. Prenatal stress caused aromatase activity lowering in the POA of developing brain and feminization (appearance of lordosis) and demasculinization of sexual behavior (prolongation of latent periods to the first mounting and first intromission) in young male offspring. Oral methyldopa used prior to stressing of pregnant females prevented early effect of prenatal stress on aromatase activity in the POA and some disorders of the male sexual behavior in young male rats. The data obtained indicate that brain noradrenergic system plays significant role in the mechanisms of metabolic and behavioral disturbances developing in male rats exposed to prenatal stress.