Abstract
To enable investigation of the short latency effects of estradiol, locomotor activity was monitored during a single 10-min session in adult male rats (n=71) that were either naive or adapted to the experimental testing procedures. All animals were administered either oil or 50 μg/kg estradiol benzoate (EB) 30 min before the session and were tested in an environment that was either plain or enhanced with four odorants (ethanol, ammonia, cedar oil, and female rat urine). Compared with activity of control animals, the activity of naive rats was decreased both by EB treatment and by odor enhancement of the environment, but activity was not reduced in naive animals by the combination of EB treatment and odor enhancement. In contrast to the activity of naive animals, the activity of adapted animals was not affected by EB treatment, odor enhancement, or a combination of both. The behavior of naive rats during locomotor activity testing suggested that a short-latency, presumably nongenomic, effect of EB altered the animals#’ reactions to odors in the novel environment.
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General research support was provided by the Georgia Department of Human Resources, which is gratefully acknowledged.
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West, C.H.K., Michael, R.P. Estrogen differentially alters the activity of male rats in plain and enhanced environments. Psychobiology 16, 218–222 (1988). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03327310
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03327310