Failure of a tryptophan-free amino acid mixture to modify sexual behavior in the female rat

Physiol Behav. 1993 Dec;54(6):1235-7. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(93)90354-i.

Abstract

Female Wistar rats, weekly injected with estradiol valerate after ovariectomy, were trained to cause a sexual contact with a potent male by operating a lever. Contact-response latencies, which vary according to the nature of the sexual contact, were measured as an index of the female's sexual motivation. In these experimental conditions the administration of a tryptophan-free amino acid mixture, which has been proved to decrease brain serotonin and to enhance male mounting behavior, failed to modify the sexual motivation of the female rats.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / administration & dosage*
  • Amino Acids / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Appetitive Behavior / physiology
  • Copulation / physiology
  • Female
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Serotonin / physiology*
  • Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology*
  • Tryptophan / deficiency*
  • Tryptophan / metabolism

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Serotonin
  • Tryptophan