Effects of gonadectomy and exogenous gonadal steroids on sex differences in open field behaviour of adult rats

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the contribution of gonadal hormones to the expression of sex differences in open field behaviour of adult female and male rats. In the first experiment rats were gonadectomized or sham-operated in adulthood and tested in the open field 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 weeks later (3 min/rat on 3 consecutive days during the light period of the day). It was found that following gonadectomy the well known sex difference in ambulation and rearing behaviour (females more than males), as well as in defaecation (females less than males) remained. Ovariectomy caused a decrease in ambulation and rearing, with an increase in defaecation, whereas castration had no significant effect on ambulation and rearing, but also increased defaecation. Also an overall increase in ambulation and rearing was found: animals tested 5 and 6 weeks following the operation were significantly more active than animals tested at 1–4 weeks after the operation. In the second experiment female and male rats were gonadectomized and 7 weeks later they received a silastic implant containing testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), oestradiol (E 2), DHT plus E 2, or nothing (control condition). Four weeks after the implantation the animals were tested in the open field (3 min/rat on 3 consecutive days). An overall sex difference was found for ambulation (females more than males) and for defaecation (females less than males). The only effect of hormone administration was found in DHT-treated animals: lowest ambulation and highest defaecation compared to other hormone and control animals. No differences were found between the T, E 2, DHT plus E 2, and control animals. From these data it was concluded that endogenous gonadal steroids seem to play a minor role in the expression of sex differences in adult open field behaviour in the rat.