title: Ketanserin attenuates the behavioural effects of corticosterone: implications for 5-HT(2A) receptor regulation.
abstract: The effects of chronic corticosterone treatment on sexual behaviour and wet-dog shakes were investigated in both female and male rats. The serotonergic type 2A (5-HT(2A)) receptor antagonist ketanserin was administered to test the hypothesis that the behavioural effects of corticosterone were mediated by increased 5-HT(2A) receptor activity. Rats were randomly assigned to one of four chronic treatment groups: control, ketanserin alone, corticosterone alone, or ketanserin and corticosterone. Ketanserin attenuated the corticosterone-induced changes in both sexual behaviour and wet-dog shakes. Ketanserin alone had no effect on these behaviours. Results suggest that increased 5-HT(2A) receptor activity mediates the effects of corticosterone on sexual behaviour and wet-dog shakes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4. bgorzalka@cortex.psych.ubc.ca
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Gorzalka
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D007650:Ketanserin; D003345:Corticosterone