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Sex differences in luteinizing hormone releasing hormone‐induced conditioned place preference in the rat
Author(s) -
de Beun Rene,
Geerts Nora E.,
van de Poll Nanne E.,
Slangen Jef L.,
Vreeburg Jan T. M.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
drug development research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.582
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1098-2299
pISSN - 0272-4391
DOI - 10.1002/ddr.430160231
Subject(s) - endocrinology , testosterone (patch) , medicine , conditioned place preference , luteinizing hormone , preference test , hormone , saline , preference , receptor , microeconomics , economics
Conditioned place‐preference was measured in male and female Wistar rats after association of 5 μg/kg i.p. injections of LHRH with one side of a spatial preference box. Gonadectomized males and females received silastic implants, containing testosterone (T) and estradiol (E), respectively. During an adaptation session of 60 min, at the start of experimentation, possible basic preference for one or the other (black or white) compartment was established. Alternatingly, on 8 subsequent days, LHRH treatment was paired with one compartment (4 × 30 min), and vehicle treatment (saline), with the distinctive second compartment (4 × 30 min). Animals were injected 15 min before the association sessions, which was sufficient to increase circulating LHRH during the first 10–13 min. Finally, at the preference test (non‐drug condition), animals had access to both compartments (test duration 60 min). Male rats spent significantly more time in the part of the test box associated with LHRH treatment, whereas no preference developed in females. The results indicate that injection of a dose of LHRH that was sufficient to activate the pituitary‐gonadal axis in intact rats (unpublished data) is rewarding for male but not for female rats.