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Related Experiment Videos

Testosterone self-administration in female hamsters.

Jennifer L Triemstra1, Ruth I Wood

  • 1Department of Cell and Neurobiology, Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, 1333 San Pablo Street, BMT 401, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.

Behavioural Brain Research
|August 11, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Female hamsters self-administer anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), indicating androgens are rewarding in females. However, this self-administration disrupts estrous cycles, suggesting AAS may inhibit female reproduction, not explain human abuse differences.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Endocrinology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse is a significant public health issue.
  • Testosterone self-administration demonstrates the reinforcing properties of androgens in male hamsters.
  • It remains unclear if androgens are equally rewarding in female animals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if female hamsters voluntarily consume testosterone.
  • To investigate the effects of testosterone self-administration on female reproductive cycles.
  • To examine the influence of ovarian steroids on androgen self-administration in females.

Main Methods:

  • Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) self-administration of testosterone in an operant chamber.
  • Monitoring of nose-poke behavior to assess preference for active vs. inactive levers.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Ovariectomy (OVX) and estrogen replacement to study the role of ovarian steroids.
  • Assessment of estrous cycle regularity and partner preference.

    • Main Results:

    • Female hamsters developed a significant preference for self-administering testosterone, similar to male hamsters.
    • Testosterone self-administration led to irregular estrous cycles, which normalized after cessation.
    • Ovariectomy and estrogen replacement did not alter the preference for testosterone self-administration.
    • Activity in a preference chamber predicted subsequent androgen intake.

    Conclusions:

    • Androgens are rewarding in female hamsters, suggesting sex differences in AAS abuse are not due to reward pathways.
    • Testosterone self-administration negatively impacts female reproductive cyclicity.
    • Findings indicate potential inhibitory effects of anabolic steroids on female reproduction.