A positive correlation between male and female response latencies in the mutually reinforced instrumental sexual responses in rats.

In a previous study (1) during the investigation of the mutually reinforced instrumental sexual rqponses in rats a positive correlation has been found between the male and female response latencies. The purpose of the present work was to investigate whether this correlation is related to the mating behavior. Mutually reinforced instrumental responses, rewarded by contact with an animal of the opposite sex, were tested in male and female rats in two experimental situations, the estrus situation when the female subjects displayed estrus behavior (3, 5, 8) and the diestrus situation when they displayed diestrus behavior. Four male albino rats, 4 male hybrids of albino and wild rats (F3 generation), and 7 female albino rats were the subjects of this study. The females were previously sterelized by a bilateral ligation of the uteral horns and in the course of the experiment displayed their natural sexual cycle. As a criterion of estrus behavior was assumed the display by the females of typical behavioral patterns such as l d o s i s , ear-wiggling, presentation, hopping and running. The subjects were caged in groups of 3 to 4 animals of the same sex and maintained in 12 h reversed day-night cycle. The sessions were carried out 4 to 6 h after the begining of the dark period. The apparatus for the investigation of the instrumental response (Fig.