Oral testosterone self-administration in male hamsters.
The addiction potential of anabolic steroids remains largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate voluntary oral testosterone intake in hamsters. Using a 2-bottle choice test, males preferred an aqueous solution of 200 microg/ml testosterone over vehicle. However, the taste of testosterone is not highly preferred. Addition of testosterone at 400 microg/ml increased fluid consumption from the nonpreferred bottle in a 2-bottle choice test, but cholesterol at the same concentration reduced drinking, suggesting that testosterone reward is not common to all sterols. With food-induced drinking, testosterone maintained fluid intake when food was withdrawn. These data demonstrate that oral self-administration of testosterone is reinforcing in hamsters, suggesting the potential for dependence in human users.
Johnson
L R
LR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn., USA.
Wood
R I
RI
D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D006224:Cricetinae; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D012439:Saccharin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012646:Self Administration; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*
D013549:Sweetening Agents; D013739:Testosterone; D002784:Cholesterol; D012439:Saccharin