Sex differences in drug-induced rotation in two strains of rats

Female Fischer and Sprague-Dawley rats rotate significantly more in response to D-amphetamine sulfate (1 mg/kg, i.p.) than their male littermates. Although Sprague-Dawley males rotate more than females when injected with apomorphine hydrochloride (10 mg/kg, i.p.), Fischer males and females respond similarly to this drug. The sexually dimorphic behavioral response to amphetamine appears to be due to differences in brain sensitivity to this drug, and may relate to reports of sex-related differences in nigrostriatal dopaminergic activity.