Ketanserin attenuates the behavioural effects of corticosterone: implications for 5-HT2A receptor regulation

The effects of chronic corticosterone treatment on sexual behaviour and wet -dog shakes were investigated in both female and male rats. The serotonergi c type 2A (5-HT2A) receptor antagonist ketanserin was administered to test the hypothesis that the behavioural, effects of corticosterone were mediate d by increased 5-HT2A receptor activity. Rats were randomly assigned to one of four chronic treatment groups: control, ketanserin alone, corticosteron e alone, or ketanserin and corticosterone. Ketanserin attenuated the cortic osterone-induced changes in both sexual behaviour and wet-dog shakes. Ketan serin alone had no effect on these behaviours. Results suggest that increas ed 5-HT2A receptor activity mediates the effects of corticosterone on sexua l behaviour and wet-dog shakes. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.