Effects of dihydrotestosterone and estradiol benzoate pretreatment upon testosterone-induced sexual behavior in the castrated male rat
Larsson, K.; Pérez-Palacios, G.; Moralí, G.; Beyer, C.
Hormones and Behavior 6(1): 1-8
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0018-506X PMID: 1120601 DOI: 10.1016/0018-506x(75)90017-3Document Number: 504896
Three groups of inexperienced castrated male rats were treated daily for 15 days with oil, estradiol benzoate (1 μg), or dihydrotestosterone (1 mg), and thereafter injected daily with testosterone (1 mg) for 21 days. Sexual behavior was tested every third day after the start of the pretreatment until day 36. Estradiol benzoate or dihydrotestosterone failed to elicit sexual behavior. Pretreatment with dihydrotestosterone, but not estradiol benzoate, significantly shortened the intervals to initiation of mounting and intromission in response to testosterone. The results suggest that fully developed genitals (penis and/or sexual accessories) facilitate initiation of copulatory behavior in response to testosterone administration.