The reduction in sexual behavior induced by neonatal immune stress is not related to androgen levels in male rats

In male rats, immune stress in the early neonatal period delayed sexual maturation, reduced sexual behavior, suppressed the serum T concentration, and downregulated the hypothalamic mRNA expression levels of GnRH and the PR in adulthood. The delayed sexual maturation was presumed to have been caused by the reduction in the serum T concentration. However, the rats that experienced neonatal stress exhibited reduced sexual behavior irrespective of their serum T concentrations.