Play soliciting behavior in prepubertal and postpubertal male rats

Pre- and postpubertal play soliciting behavior was observed in intact males, castrate males, sham-operated males, and female controls. Although play soliciting decreased markedly with age in all groups, male treatment groups did not differ reliably on pre- or postpubertal tests. Males, however, engaged in reliably greater play soliciting than females on all measures in both preand postpubertal tests. These results suggest that the major decrease in social play associated with the attainment of sexual maturity is apparent in the play soliciting behavior of both sexes and may be attributed to maturation effects other than that associated with gonadal hormones. The results are discussed in reference to organizational and activational effects of male gonadal hormones on measures of social play behavior.