C. Beyer, B. Komisaruk
Sep 1, 1971
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0
Influential Citations
53
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Quality indicators
Journal
Hormones and Behavior
Abstract
Abstract The effects of diverse androgens in selected dosages (testosterone propionate, 2 or 6 mg/day; 5-α-dihydrotestosterone, 2 or 6 mg/day; androsterone, 5 or 15 mg/day; androstendione, 5 or 15 mg/day) and estradiol benzoate (2 or 6 μg/day) were observed on the estrous behavior, lordosis reflex, and genital tract development of ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats. Steroids were injected for 10 days. Testosterone propionate was the only androgen to clearly stimulate estrous behavior (four of eight rats mated after receiving 6 mg/day TP). Estradiol benzoate at 2 μg, and 6-μg dose levels stimulated lordosis behavior in 50% and 100% of the subjects, respectively. No androgen induced clear vaginal cornification. All androgens except androsterone increased uterine weight and thickness of the myometrium. Only testosterone propionate (6 mg/day) induced a marked stimulation of the epithelium of the endometrium. The results suggest that the structural requirements of the androgen molecule for stimulating sexual behavior differ from those determining uterine growth responses.