ANABOLIC-ANDROGENIC STEROID EFFECTS ON THE SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR OF INTACT MALE-RATS

Six separate experiments were conducted which examined the effects of long-term administration of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) compound s on the sexual behavior of gonadally intact male rats. The six AAS co mpounds analyzed in this study were 17 alpha-methyltestosterone, metha ndrostenolone, nandrolone decanoate, stanozolol, oxymetholone, and tes tosterone cypionate. In each experiment, subjects received daily injec tions of a high, medium, or low dose of the AAS compound, or the oil v ehicle, for 12 weeks. Sexual behavior was quantified weekly. Twelve we eks of administration of the high dose of three AAS compounds, 17 alph a-methyltestosterone, stanozolol, and oxymetholone, eliminated male se xual behavior. These treatments also suppressed serum testosterone lev els. The remaining compounds had minimal effects on sexual behavior at any dose. Thus, in intact male rats the six AAS compounds examined in these studies evoked a range of behavioral and endocrine responses th at varied as a function of the specific compound and dose administered . (C) 1997 Academic Press.