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The causes of anxiety and depression in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remain elusive.To identify steps linking androgen signaling to the regulation of affective symptoms in vivo, we compared behavioral responses in female rats continuously exposed to DHT from puberty (a model of DHT-induced PCOS) and in rats exposed to DHT for 1 week.In both groups, locomotor activity decreased, indicating anxiety-like behavior.Rats with DHT-induced PCOS have increases in adiposity and circulating leptin levels accompanied by leptin resistance.One week of DHT exposure decreased androgen receptor (AR) expression in the hypothalamus and leptin synthesis and function in adipocytes; it also inhibited signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and attenuated leptin activity by increasing levels of soluble leptin receptor, a leptin-binding protein, in the hypothalamus.This may affect the androgen-induced anxiety-related behavior in female rats.Our results highlight the central role of androgens in behavioral function in female rats and suggest that androgens directly regulate the AR by decreasing its hypothalamic expression.Androgens also increase leptin synthesis in adipocytes, which drives central leptin signaling, and may regulate anxiety-related behaviors.Multiple molecular factors are responsible for anxiety-related behavioral responses.