TESTOSTERONE HAS REWARDING AFFECTIVE PROPERTIES IN MALE-RATS - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF SEXUAL MOTIVATION

Evidence from mammalian species, including humans, suggests that testo sterone (T) enhances motivational aspects of sexual behavior, although the mechanism by which T exerts this effect is unknown. The hypothesi s that increases in plasma T have rewarding affective properties was e xamined. Acute elevations of plasma T were induced in intact male rats by systemic administration of a recently developed testosterone-hydro xypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex that mimics pulsatile rel ease of the hormone. In a conditioned-place-preference paradigm, rats displayed a preference for an environment previously paired with T adm inistration (800 mu g/kg and 1,200 mu g/kg) as opposed to an environme nt paired with saline administration, indicating that T has rewarding affective properties. The findings suggest that T may enhance motivati onal aspects of mammalian sexual behavior by facilitating acquisition or expression of learned associations between environmental stimuli an d sexual activity.