SEX-DIFFERENCES IN CONFLICT BEHAVIOR AND IN PLASMA-CORTICOSTERONE LEVELS

The levels of plasma corticosterone and conflict behaviour were follow ed in male and female water deprived Wistar rats exposed to the publis hed (0.2 or 0.8 mA) drinking test. The unpunished drinking, performed under familiar or unfamiliar conditions, and plasma corticosterone lev els of these male and female rats were determined. Plasma corticostero ne was elevated in water-deprived rats compared to rats under normal c onditions. In all cases plasma corticosterone levels were considerably higher in water deprived females than in males. The highest levels in both sexes were obtained following drinking punished with 0.8 mA shoc ks. While the unpunished drinking did not differ between the two sexes , the punished drinking was significantly lower in females than in mal es. Although female rats displayed less punished licks and had higher plasma corticosterone levels than males, there was no correlation betw een the two parameters.