Onset of sexual maturation in female mice as measured in behavior and fertility: Interactions of exposure to males, phytoestrogen content of diet, and ano-genital distance

Age of puberty was examined in female mice through non-invasive behavioral and fertility measures, in relationship to ano-genital distance, phytoestrogen content of diet, and exposure to males post-weaning. Throughout gestation and post-natal development, females were exposed to a regular diet or one that was nutritionally similar but deficient in phytoestrogens. After segregation at weaning on the basis of a short or long ano-genital distance …