THE EFFECTS OF ADRENALECTOMY AND OVARIECTOMY ON THE BEHAVIORAL AND HYPOTHERMIC RESPONSES OF RATS TO 8-HYDROXY-2(DI-N-PROPYLAMINO)TETRALIN (8-OH-DPAT)

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of sex, corticoster one and oestradiol-17beta on the hypothermia and motor behavioural syn drome induced by the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propyla mino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) in the rat. The hypothermia, but not the beh avioural syndrome induced by 8-OH-DPAT was significantly greater in fe male compared with male rats. Adrenalectomy in male rats enhanced the hypothermic response, an effect prevented by corticosterone implants. Ovariectomy significantly attenuated the hypothermia induced by 8-OH-D PAT, an effect prevented by oestradiol-17beta implants. Neither type o f steroid manipulation affected the behavioural syndrome. These result s show that sex, corticosterone and oestradiol-17beta modulate the hyp othermic response to 8-OH-DPAT in the rat, with corticosterone and oes tradiol-17beta having opposing effects.