Anabolic–androgenic steroids and appetitive sexual behavior in male rats

Abstract

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) increase libido and sexual behavior, but the underlying behavioral mechanisms are unclear. One way AAS may enhance expression of sexual behavior is by increasing the willingness to work for sex. In the present study, sexually-experienced male rats received daily injections of testosterone at supraphysiologic doses (7.5 mg/kg in water with 13% cyclodextrin) or vehicle and were tested for appetitive sexual behavior measured by operant responding for access to an estrous female. Initially, rats were trained in their home cage to respond on a nose-poke under a 10-min fixed-interval schedule for food reward. Once rats achieved stable response rates, the food was replaced by a female, followed by mating for 10 min. There was no effect of testosterone on operant responding for food (28.1±4.4 responses/10 min for testosterone, 30.6±4.3 for vehicle) or sex (35.0±4.0 responses/10 min for testosterone, 37.3±5.2 for vehicle). However, rats made significantly more responses for sex than for food (p<0.05), and responses for food and sex were positively correlated among individuals (R2=0.6). Additional groups of rats were trained to respond on a lever for the female under a 2nd-order schedule of reinforcement, where 5 responses opened a door to show the female for 5 seconds. After 15 door openings, the male gained access to the female. There was no effect of testosterone on time to complete 75 responses: 38.4±7.8 minutes for vehicle controls vs 43.3±6.6 minutes for testosterone-treated rats (p>0.05). These findings suggest that chronic high-dose testosterone does not enhance appetitive drive for sexual behavior.

Influence of Cyperus esculentus tubers (Tiger Nut) on male rat copulatory behavior

“…However, the role of testosterone in improving sexual behavior is still under debate. Some researchers suggest that testosterone has little, if any, impact on sexual activity [ 16 – 18 ]. For example, Damassa et al [ 19 ] reported no correlation between circulating testosterone levels and male sexual behavior in normal active rats.…”

Anabolic androgenic steroid abuse in the United Kingdom: An update

“…; Hildebrandt, Heywood, Wesley, & Schulz, ). Expressions of aggression and violence have been shown to be unpredictable and context dependent and generally only encountered when triggered by a stimulus (Kim & Wood, ; Wallin et al, ). Altered judgement pathways could make users' behaviours less flexible and unable to adapt to changing situations (Wallin & Wood, ).…”

“…As sex also stimulates reward centres in the brain, anabolic androgenic steroid‐induced dysfunction of reward circuits is postulated to influence sexual behaviour. Anabolic androgenic steroids have been reported to increase sexual arousal and desire in human subjects and exhibit dose‐dependent stimulation of sexual behaviour in animals (Kim & Wood, ). Rat models have shown, however, that there is no associated increase in willingness to work for sexual reward (Kim & Wood, ).…”

“…Anabolic androgenic steroids have been reported to increase sexual arousal and desire in human subjects and exhibit dose‐dependent stimulation of sexual behaviour in animals (Kim & Wood, ). Rat models have shown, however, that there is no associated increase in willingness to work for sexual reward (Kim & Wood, ). Rather, when sexual opportunities are presented, they are more likely to be accepted.…”

Sexual risk behaviors and steroid use among sexual minority adolescent boys

“…These factors, in turn, are associated with increased sexual risk behaviors (Ariely and Loewenstein, 2006; Malow et al, 2001; Raffaelli and Crockett, 2003). However, it is also important to note that chronic use of steroids may not confer the same effects on sexual arousal (Kim and Wood, 2014), and may be a phenomenon exclusive to acute and/or infrequent users.…”