Sexual motivation in the female rat after testosterone treatment

Abstract

The effect of testosterone propionate (TP) on sexual motivation in the ovariectomized female rat was studied. The urge to seek sexual contact was measured in terms of location in the male vicinity in an open field, the amount of aversive stimulus (crossing of an electric grid) the animal was willing to take to seek contact with a sexually active male and the preference in a run and choice situation for a sexually active male versus a female. It was a consistent finding in the three different methods used that TP 1 mg/kg induced a significant increase in the willingness of ovariectomized rats to seek contact with a sexually active male. A sexually active male was more incentive than a castrated male or a female. The effect of TP was dose-dependent and the maximal response occurred after 2–4 days.