Prepubertal gonadectomy reveals sex differences in approach-avoidance behavior in adult mice

• Published in: Hormones and behavior 2020-02, Vol.118, p.104641-104641, Article 104641
• Main Authors: Delevich, Kristen, Hall, Christopher D., Piekarski, David, Zhang, Yuting, Wilbrecht, Linda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Approach-avoidance behavior; Foraging; Puberty; Sex differences
• ISSN: 0018-506X; 1095-6867
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104641

Adolescence is a developmental period that is associated with physical, cognitive, and affective maturation and a time when sex biases in multiple psychiatric diseases emerge. While puberty onset marks the initiation of adolescence, it is unclear whether the pubertal rise in gonadal hormones generates sex differences in approach-avoidance behaviors that may impact psychiatric vulnerability. To examine the influence of pubertal development on adult behavior, we removed the gonads or performed sham surgery in male and female mice just prior to puberty onset and assessed performance in an odor-guided foraging task and anxiety-related behaviors in adulthood. We observed no significant sex differences in foraging or anxiety-related behaviors between intact adult male and female mice but found significant differences between adult male and female mice that had been gonadectomized (GDX) prior to puberty onset. GDX males failed to acquire the odor-guided foraging task, showed reduced locomotion, and exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior, while GDX females showed the opposite pattern of behavior. These data suggest that puberty may minimize rather than drive differences in approach-avoidance phenotypes in male and female mice. •Adult male and female C57Bl/6 mice exhibit similar approach-avoidance behavior.•Gonadectomy (GDX) prior to puberty produces sex differences in behavior.•GDX males exhibit increased anxiety-like behavior compared to intact males.•GDX females exhibit decreased anxiety-like behavior compared to intact females.•Sham and OVX females utilize different foraging strategies during reversal.