TESTOSTERONE IMPLANTATION REDUCES THE MOTOR EFFECTS OF COCAINE

The abuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids noted in recent years has be en correlated with an increased likelihood of abuse of other drugs, in cluding cocaine. This research was designed to investigate whether man ipulation of androgen levels would alter the unconditioned behavioral effects of cocaine. The influence of testosterone on the locomotor act ivating effect of oral cocaine was evaluated. Subjects were male gonad ally intact and castrated Wistar rats, implanted s.c. with either plac ebo or 100 mg testosterone 30-day pellets. Beginning 7 days after pell et implantation, each animal in the four subgroups randomly received 0 , 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg cocaine (once, each dose). Cocaine 80 mg/kg sign ificantly enhanced locomotor activity in all groups except the intact testosterone-treated group. Of the four groups, this subgroup would ha ve the highest plasma level of testosterone. These data suggest that c hronic exogenous androgen administration may reduce the behavioral eff ects of cocaine.