Abstract
The effects of castration and hormone replacement on the acquisition of a leverpress Sidman avoidance task were examined. Sixty male rats were assigned randomly to one of five groups: (1) castration with estradiol treatment, (2) castration with progesterone treatment, (3) castration with estradiol and progesterone treatment, (4) castration with saline treatment, and (5) sham castration with saline treatment. Serum hormone concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. While serum assays indicated an increase of at least 600% to 3,300% for progesterone and estrogen levels, respectively, the results did not reveal any significant castration or hormone effects on the acquisition of the avoidance task.
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Beatty, W. W. Personal communication, 1978.
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The authors wish to thank Robbie Smeltzer for valuable assistance with the radioimmunoassays.
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Hamlin, E.D., McCord, D.M., Pool, G.L. et al. Effects of castration and hormone replacement on Sidman avoidance acquisition in the rat. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 14, 124–126 (1979). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329419
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329419