Antagonism of estrogen-induced lordosis by corticosterone in adrenalectomized-ovariectomized female rats and mice.

Previous experimentation has established that adrenalectomy can facilitate lordosis in ovariectomized estrogen-primed female rats. Experiment 1 examined the role of adrenal steroids in this effect, the results indicating an attenuation with chronic corticosterone but not with desoxycorticosterone or progesterone administration. Experiment 2 established a dose-response curve for this corticosterone effect. Experiments 3 and 4 indicated that corticosterone administration inhibits lordosis when it precedes estrogen administration. Experiment 5 demonstrated that corticosterone also inhibits estrogen-induced lordosis in mice. These data suggest that corticosterone may modulate estrogen-mediated behavior in rodents.