title: Compulsive-like behaviour according to the sex and the reproductive stage of female rats.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to explore putative differences in the responses assessed in an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) according to the sex and the reproductive cycle of female rats. The model consists of the induction of perseveration (repetitive choices of the same arm in a T-maze) by 8-OH-DPAT (1.0mg/kg). Males and females (pooled in all stages of their oestrous cycle) persevered after 8-OH-DPAT administration and no differences were observed between groups. During the oestrous cycle, this 5-HT(1A) agonist induced perseveration in metoestrus, dioestrus and prooestrus and reduced levels of this behaviour in oestrus. 8-OH-DPAT provoked perseveration in mid-gestation, an effect that was reduced in late-gestation and blocked during lactation. Reproductive cycle changes in the induced perseveration are discussed from the standpoint of the ovarian steroids' action on the serotoninergic system and on the bases of the variations in stress responsiveness along the reproductive cycle of the female. Present results validate the use of females in this model of OCD and could be relevant for studying the role of reproductive hormones in the pathophysiology of this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Facultad de Ciencias, Iguá 4225, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Daniella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Agrati
authors.forename: Alonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Guasti
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zuluaga
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uriarte
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Annabel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin