Testosterone alters the behavioral response of the medial preoptic-anterior hypothalamus to microinjection of arginine vasopressin in the hamster.
The medial preoptic-anterior hypothalamus (MPOA-AH) is necessary for expression of several testosterone-dependent behaviors including a form of hamster scent marking, called flank marking. Since arginine vasopressin (AVP) plays a critical role in the control of flank marking by the MPOA-AH the present study examined whether testosterone can influence the amount of flank marking produced by AVP microinjected into the MPOA-AH. The dose-dependent induction of flank marking by AVP was found to be reduced by approximately 50% in castrated male hamsters when compared to intact or testosterone-treated castrates. These data demonstrate that testosterone influences the amount of flank marking produced by AVP within the MPOA-AH.
Albers
H E
HE
Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta 30303.
Liou
S Y
SY
Ferris
C F
CF
D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004343:Drug Implants; D007033:Hypothalamus, Middle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D009919:Orchiectomy; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004343:Drug Implants; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D013739:Testosterone