Hormonal influences on sexual dimorphism in rate of extinction of a conditioned taste aversion in rats.
The hormonal influences on the slow extinction rate of a conditioned taste aversion shown by male rats and the fast extinction rate shown by female rats were investigated. When males were castrated, they extinguished as quickly as females. When castrated males were given testosterone propionate replacement, they had a slow extinction rate. Castration had no effect on the extinction rate of females. But when testosterone propionate was administered to castrated or intact females, they had a slow, malelike extinction rate. Thus, sexual dimorphism in the extinction rate of a conditioned taste aversion seems to be due to the activational effects of testosterone.
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D002369:Castration; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008094:Lithium / Q000506:poisoning; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012737:Sex Factors; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000506:poisoning; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*
D013739:Testosterone; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D008094:Lithium