title: Corticosterone regulation of 5-HT2A receptor-mediated behaviors: attenuation by melatonin.
abstract: The effects of chronic corticosterone treatment on sexual behavior and on wet-dog shakes (WDS), a serotonergic type 2A (5-HT2A) receptor-mediated behavior, were explored in the male rat. In addition, the effects of acute melatonin treatment, both alone and in combination with corticosterone, were investigated. Chronic injections of corticosterone resulted in an overall decrease in consummatory measures of sexual behavior, and an increase in WDS. Furthermore, although an acute injection of melatonin alone had no effect on any recorded behavior, it attenuated the effects of corticosterone on sexual behavior and WDS. The data suggest that in the context of 5-HT2A receptor-mediated behaviors, melatonin has possible implications as a 5-HT2A antagonist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. bgorzalka@neuron3.psych.ubc.ca
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Gorzalka
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Brotto
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D008550:Melatonin; D003345:Corticosterone