Male rats classified as copulators and noncopulators respond differentially on the hot plate test.
Sexually naive male rats that fail to copulate with a sexually receptive female (noncopulators) have been shown to be less responsive to a variety of environmental stimuli in comparison to rats that do engage in copulation (copulators). In this experiment, it was found that noncopulators were less responsive than copulators to noxious thermal stimulation as determined by their latency to paw lick on a 50 degrees C hot plate. Pain sensitivity was not influenced in either noncopulators or copulators by exposure to a sexually receptive female. These results add to the list of differences between copulators and noncopulators.
Rochford
J
J
Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Chatigny
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal; D003307:Copulation; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D017288:Pain Threshold; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time; D012931:Social Environment