Neonatal testosterone and handedness in yearling rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).
Journal Article (Journal Article)
This study investigated the relationship between neonatal testosterone (T) and hand bias in young rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Subjects (n = 8 per group) included: neonatally androgen-suppressed males, using a Nal-Lys gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist (Antide); androgen-suppressed males receiving T replacement by a long-acting T preparation (CDB); control males; and control females. Antide suppressed T to the female range, whereas CDB replacement produced supranormal levels. Visually guided reaching, in a social context, showed a population-level left-hand bias. Males with elevated T did not show a stronger left-hand bias than males with normal T, but did show a stronger bias for the preferred hand whether left or right. Males with Antide-suppressed T showed an intermediate degree of hand bias. Results suggest that high neonatal T levels affect laterality and raise the possibility that GnRH analogues influence brain development. These data suggest a broad influence of the CNS-pituitary-testicular axis on brain asymmetries and provide support for an early neonatal period of T-influenced brain differentiation.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Drea, CM; Wallen, K; Akinbami, MA; Mann, DR
Published Date
- December 1995
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 58 / 6
Start / End Page
- 1257 - 1262
PubMed ID
- 8623029
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1873-507X
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0031-9384
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/0031-9384(95)02026-8
Language
- eng