Effects of cholecystokinin on male copulatory behavior and lordosis behavior in male rats.

Because the distribution of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) within the hypothalamus and limbic system overlaps with steroid concentrating regions, and because these areas are involved in the regulation of reproductive behaviors, we examined the effects of exogenous CCK-8 on male copulatory behavior and lordosis behavior in the male rat. Peripheral administration of a dose of CCK-8 that altered lordosis behavior in females (3 micrograms/kg, intraperitoneal) was ineffective in altering male copulatory behavior in males, either before or after gonadectomy, and was also ineffective in altering lordosis behavior after estrogen priming. In a separate experiment, CCK-8 injected into the lateral ventricle also did not affect male copulatory behavior, but lordosis behavior was increased dramatically after gonadectomy and estrogen priming. Although these results do not answer the question whether CCK-8 is acting to inhibit a neural system that normally suppresses lordosis behavior or is acting to stimulate a facilitatory circuit, these results do indicate the existence of an estrogen sensitive neural substrate in males on which CCK can act to facilitate lordosis behavior.