EFFECTS OF MIANSERIN AND KETANSERIN ON LORDOSIS BEHAVIOR AFTER SYSTEMIC TREATMENT OR INFUSION INTO THE VENTROMEDIAL NUCLEUS OF THE HYPOTHALAMUS

The effects of the 5-HT2A/2C antagonists, mianserin and ketanserin, we re investigated in proestrous rats and in ovariectomized rats hormonal ly primed with estradiol benzoate and progesterone. Drugs were adminis tered systemically ro by infusion into the vicinity of the ventromedia l nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN). By both routes of administration, inhibition of lordosis behavior was seen following treatment with 5-H T2A/2C antagonists, but the magnitude of the decline was smaller in pr oestrous than in hormone-primed, ovariectomized rats. The results of t hese studies are discussed in terms of the dual role of serotonin in t he control of female sexual behavior.