Maternal testosterone exposure increases anxiety-like behavior and impacts the limbic system in the offspring

Significance Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the leading cause of anovulatory infertility characterized by excessive androgen secretion. PCOS women are at an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety disorders. Although the etiology of PCOS is unclear, it is proposed to originate during fetal development because of maternal androgen excess. We describe here, in rodent models reflecting the anxiety phenotype of PCOS, evidence for...