Introduction: Female rats display a repertoire of behaviors during a sexual encounter with a male, including sexually receptive (the lordosis response) and proceptive (darts and hops, and ear wigglings) behaviors.
Aim: We investigated the effects of subcutaneous injection of the 5-HT(2A/2C) receptor agonist (2,5-dimethoxy-4-idophenyl)-2-aminopropane hydrochloride (DOI) on sexual behaviors of ovariectomized female rat hormonally supplemented with estradiol benzoate (10 microg) and progesterone (250 microg).
Methods: Both female and male sexual behaviors were observed for 10 minutes (pretest). Then females were injected with the treatment and after a 10-minute delay replaced with the same male for a 30-minute mating test (posttreatment period).
Results: DOI (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) significantly increased the number of darts and hops/mounts. In contrast, no significant differences in ear wigglings/mounts were observed. In addition, DOI failed to modify sexual receptivity.
Conclusion: These data suggest that 5-HT(2A/2C) receptors are important in the regulation of female proceptivity.