Effects of caudate nuclei and frontal cortical ablations in cats: Testosterone and 17β-estradiol concentrations

Plasma testosterone and 17β-estradiol concentrations and lordotic behavior were measured in male cats which had received lesions of the caudate nuclei and frontal cortices and were compared with intact and other lesion controls. Only the acaudate cats showed significant increases in lordosis whereas all groups with lesions showed significant decreases in testosterone. Only the afrontal animals showed a significant increase in the concentrations of 17β-estradiol but it was unaccompanied by the behavioral change. It is concluded that the striking changes in lordotic behavior seen in the cats with extensive caudate lesions are most probably due to the increased somatosensory reactivity seen in these animals, rather than to a shift in sex hormone balance.