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Sexual behavior and wet dog shakes in the male rat: regulation by corticosterone. 1998

B B Gorzalka, and L A Hanson
Department of Psychology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. bgorzalka@neuron3.psych.ubc.ca

The potential involvement of adrenal steroids in the regulation of 'wet dog shakes' (WDS) and sexual behavior was investigated in male rats treated or not with the serotonergic type 2A (5-HT2A) agonist DOI (5-HT2A receptor agonist 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane). In Experiment 1, the frequency of both spontaneous and DOI-induced WDS were compared in adrenalectomized and sham-adrenalectomized rats. Adrenalectomy significantly reduced the frequency of DOI-induced WDS. In Experiment 2, adrenalectomized and sham-adrenalectomized rats received either corticosterone or oil chronically and were again scored for WDS behavior. Corticosterone effectively blocked the adrenalectomy-induced reduction of WDS in the DOI treatment condition. In Experiment 3, intact male rats were chronically administered either corticosterone or oil treatment. Animals were then compared on measures of both spontaneous and DOI-induced WDS and sexual behavior. Corticosterone significantly increased WDS and inhibited sexual behavior in both the spontaneous and DOI treatment conditions. These results suggest that the adrenal steroid corticosterone is important in the regulation of WDS and sexual behavior in the male rat and that this regulation may be mediated by activity at 5-HT2A receptors.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D012018 Reflex An involuntary movement or exercise of function in a part, excited in response to a stimulus applied to the periphery and transmitted to the brain or spinal cord.
D003345 Corticosterone An adrenocortical steroid that has modest but significant activities as a mineralocorticoid and a glucocorticoid. (From Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p1437)
D000315 Adrenalectomy Excision of one or both adrenal glands. (From Dorland, 28th ed) Adrenalectomies
D000662 Amphetamines Analogs or derivatives of AMPHETAMINE. Many are sympathomimetics and central nervous system stimulators causing excitation, vasopressin, bronchodilation, and to varying degrees, anorexia, analepsis, nasal decongestion, and some smooth muscle relaxation.
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012726 Sexual Behavior, Animal Sexual activities of animals. Mating Behavior, Animal,Sex Behavior, Animal,Animal Mating Behavior,Animal Mating Behaviors,Animal Sex Behavior,Animal Sex Behaviors,Animal Sexual Behavior,Animal Sexual Behaviors,Mating Behaviors, Animal,Sex Behaviors, Animal,Sexual Behaviors, Animal
D017208 Rats, Wistar A strain of albino rat developed at the Wistar Institute that has spread widely at other institutions. This has markedly diluted the original strain. Wistar Rat,Rat, Wistar,Wistar Rats
D017366 Serotonin Receptor Agonists Endogenous compounds and drugs that bind to and activate SEROTONIN RECEPTORS. Many serotonin receptor agonists are used as ANTIDEPRESSANTS; ANXIOLYTICS; and in the treatment of MIGRAINE DISORDERS. 5-HT Agonists,5-Hydroxytryptamine Agonists,Serotonin Agonists,5-HT Agonist,5-Hydroxytrytamine Agonist,Receptor Agonists, Serotonin,Serotonergic Agonist,Serotonergic Agonists,Serotonin Agonist,Serotonin Receptor Agonist,5 HT Agonist,5 HT Agonists,5 Hydroxytryptamine Agonists,5 Hydroxytrytamine Agonist,Agonist, 5-HT,Agonist, 5-Hydroxytrytamine,Agonist, Serotonergic,Agonist, Serotonin,Agonist, Serotonin Receptor,Agonists, 5-HT,Agonists, 5-Hydroxytryptamine,Agonists, Serotonergic,Agonists, Serotonin,Agonists, Serotonin Receptor,Receptor Agonist, Serotonin
D051381 Rats The common name for the genus Rattus. Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus

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