Activity and learning in neonatally hormone treated rats

• Published in: Acta physiologica latinoamericana Vol. 25; no. 2; p. 99
• Main Authors: Denti, A, Negroni, J A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Argentina 1975
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Avoidance Learning; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Castration; Female; Injections, Subcutaneous; Learning - drug effects; Male; Rats; Testosterone - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0001-6764

The degree of activity and the performance in active avoidance learning were determined in adulthood, from neonatal hormone treated and intact rats. The treated groups were androgenized females and castrated males and females. Normal males and females composed the intact groups. Activity was measured in two tests situations, i.e., open field and shuttle box. Similar results were obtained in both tests, and a positive correlation coefficient was found between them. Intact females showed more activity than males; castration and testosterone injection in females decreased their activity. On the contrary, castration in males increased it. The effects of the treatments on the performance in the active avoidance task were similar to those described for activity, with the only exception that castration in males did not produce a significant effect in this test. Nevertheless, no correlation was found between activity and avoidance learning scores. The validity of the classification of different types of behavior as sexual or non-sexual is discussed.