The exact timing of puberty is fundamental in preclinical studies. In male rats, the age at sexual maturity varies considerably between 40 and 60 days of age. Here, we summarize pubertal onset evaluation of two outbred rat strains (Crl:CD(SD) and Crl:LE), relying on the balano-preputial separation test. Evaluation was carried out on animals under standard barrier conditions, from four to nine weeks of age. In the Crl:CD(SD) population, 90% of males gained puberty at week 6, and 100% in the following weeks, whereas 75% of Crl:LE reached puberty at week 6, 90% at week 7 and 100% from week 8. Remarkably, in both strains, puberty onset was gained at the average weight of 200 g, suggesting that weight range, not only age range, can be considered a biomarker of puberty onset in these two strains. On the contrary, descended testes cannot be considered an additional factor to identify full puberty onset either in Crl:CD(SD) or Crl:LE rats.
Keywords: Rat; balano-preputial separation; outbred; puberty.