Stimulation of mounting behavior but not lordosis behavior in ovariectomized female rats by p-chlorophenylalanine.

Treatment with 126 mg/kg of the 5-hydroxytryptamine synthesis inhibitor p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) for 3 days or daily treatment with 40 mg/kg of PCPA stimulated the display of mounting behavior, including ejaculatory patterns, by ovariactomized hormonally untreated female rats. PCPA treatment failed to induce lordosis behavior and did not affect the induction of lordosis behavior by daily injections of 2.0 mug/kg estradiol benzoate. These results show that mounting and lordosis behavior can be dissociated and it is suggested that these two sexual behavior patterns may be regulated by different neurotransmission mechanisms.