Chronic periadolescent leuprolide exposure affects the development of reproductive physiology and behavior of female and male rats differently, but both mature after treatment termination

ConclusionsTaken together with previous findings, the present results indicate that male rats may be more sensitive to periadolescent leuprolide administration, taking longer to overcome the effects of leuprolide than female rats. Nevertheless, not long after leuprolide treatment is discontinued, sex-typical reproductive physiology and behavior emerge fully in female and male rats, indicating that the drug ’s effects are not permanent. If translatable to humans, leuprolide may be a reversible option to give adolescents more time to consider their gender identity with minimal long-term effects on sexual development.
Source: Biology of Sex Differences - Category: Biology Source Type: research