Intraventricular administration of l-kynurenine and kynuramine facilitates lordosis in the female rat.
Intraventricular administration of the tryptophan metabolites l-kynurenine (2-32 micrograms) and kynuramine (0.064-8 micrograms) facilitated lordosis behavior in estrogen-primed ovariectomized rats. The facilitatory effects of these drugs were not attenuated by pretreatment with the progesterone antagonist RU 38486, indicating that the effects were not mediated by release of adrenal progesterone. It is suggested that l-kynurenine and kynuramine may serve a physiological role in the modulation of female sexual behavior.
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
S D
SD
Mendelson
N
N
Lee
B B
BB
Gorzalka
D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004963:Estrenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007735:Kynuramine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015735:Mifepristone; D011427:Propiophenones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*
D004963:Estrenes; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011427:Propiophenones; D015735:Mifepristone; D007737:Kynurenine; D007735:Kynuramine; D004958:Estradiol