Abstract
The effects of psychostimulants are linked to behavioral changes mainly in the term of social interactions. The aim of this study was to examine how would administration of low dose of methamphetamine influence social behavior of adult gonadectomized male and female rats with or without replacement of gonadal hormones.
Adult Wistar male and female rats were used. Animals were randomly divided into 12 groups, 8 pairs of animals each according to the treatment (methamphetamine, saline and control without treatment) and to the sex hormones application (castrated male and female animals with and without hormonal substitution).
Behavioral changes were assessed by modified social interaction test which is also sensitive to manifestation of anxiety. The following parameters were evaluated: (A) active social interaction (mutual sniffing, following, allogrooming etc.) and (B) non-social activity: locomotion and rearing.
The results showed that methamphetamine decreased social interaction and increased non-social activity in both sexes. Moreover, application of testosterone to castrated males did not change either social activity or non-social behavior.
In contrary, estrogen substitution to ovariectomized females decreased social activity and increased exploration regardless of changes induced by methamphetamine.