# DIFFERENTIATION OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

> **NIH NIH R01** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS · 1994 · $163,317

## Abstract

The possible interaction between early postnatal social stimulation,
derived from peers as well as the mother, and the action of testosterone in
controlling the sexual differentiation of patterns of sex partner
preference, sexual motivation, and coital performance will be assessed in
a carnivore, the ferret.  The incidence of maternal licking of the genital
region of male versus female ferret kits will be studied, and the possible
consequences for the neonatal secretion of testosterone in the two sexes
will be assessed.  These experiments should show whether early social
factors can enhance testosterone secretion in males during neonatal life
when this steroid is known to promote the completion of behavioral sexual
differentiation in this sex.  The effects of neurotoxic lesions of a
sexually dimorphic male nucleus of the preoptic/anterior hypothalamic area
(Mn-POA/AH) on both the development and adult expression of sex partner
preference as well as motivational and performance aspects of psychosexual
function will be studied in male ferrets.  Also, the ability of coital
stimulation to activate the expression of the proto-oncogene, c-fos, in
gonaldotropin-releasing-hormone containing (GnRH) neurons as well as in
non-GnRH neurons of the dorsal POA/AH and other forebrain regions will be
compared in male and female ferrets using immunocytochemistry.  These
studies should help establish the functional significance of this sexually
dimorphic structure.  Finally, the ontogeny of estradiol receptors in the
POA/AH and other brain regions as well as the migration of neurons along
the processes of radial glial cells into the POA/AH will be compared in
fetal male and female ferrets using auto-radiographic and
immunocytochemical methods.  The ability of prenatal steroid manipulations
to alter these events will also be studied.  These experiments should help
establish the mechanism whereby estradiol acts during fetal development to
promote the formation of the sexually dimorphic Mn-POA/AH in males.
Mechanistic studies of behavioral, neuroendocrine, and neural aspects of
sexual differentiation using a higher mammalian model, the ferret, should
provide insight into these processes in man.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2198168
- **Project number:** 5R01HD021094-09
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS
- **SAM.gov UEI:** FBYMGMHW4X95
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHAEL Jay BAUM
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $163,317
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1980-02-01 → 1997-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2198168

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2198168, DIFFERENTIATION OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR (5R01HD021094-09). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2198168. Licensed CC0.

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