The role of testosterone in the development of experimental alcoholism.

The hormonal effects of testosterone, progesterone and extradiol on voluntary preference of ethanol were investigated in experiments carried out on castrated male albino rats. It was observed that testosterone stimulated the development of ethanol preference, while the effects of progesterone and estradiol were significantly slower and less intensive. It was also observed that the androgenic action of testosterone was more important than its anabolic action in stimulating ethanol preference.