6533b85dfe1ef96bd12bf126

RESEARCH PRODUCT

The effects of castration and of progestin-oestrogen combinations upon avoidance condtioning in female rats

subject

description

Summary Using avoidance conditioning the authors show that female rats, three months after castration, emit a lower number of responses. Isolation has no effect whatever on rats, whether normal or castrated. Brief treatment with progestin-oestrogen combinations, interrupted 60 hours before the commencement of the session, brings the behaviour of castrated rats back to the norm. Identical effects occur with the use of a cortical stimulating drug (methylphenidate); while, the action of this drug soon ceases, the effect of hormonal treatment lasts for the duration of the experiments. The results are discussed with reference to the significance to be attributed to the experiments.