Role of striatal dopamine in the lordosis behaviour.

Effects of intrastriatal injections of haloperidol (Dopamine antagonist) and D-amphetamine (Dopamine agonist) on lordosis behaviour were studied in ovariectomized female albino rats, after priming with subcutaneous injections of estrogen and progesterone. The lordosis quotient (LQ) significantly increased after haloperidol, and decreased following D-amphetamine treatment. However, the inhibitory effect of D-amphetamine was transient and could be reversed by haloperidol in the same animal when given one hour after the D-amphetamine injection. The ovarian hormones probably act centrally to suppress the DA system in the striatum thereby enhancing the tonic and dorsal immobility responses associated with lordosis.