Modulation of elevated plus maze behavior after chronic exposure to the anabolic steroid 17alpha-methyltestosterone in adult mice

Exposure to supraphysiological doses of androgens may disrupt affective components of behavior. In this study, behavior of adult C57Bl/6 male mice was studied after exposure to the anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) 17alpha-methyltestosterone (17alpha-meT; 7.5 mg/kg) via a subcutaneous osmotic pump for 17 days. Controls received vehicle implants (0.9% NaCl + 30% cyclodextrine). On day 15, experimental animals were challenged with an ethanol (EtOH) injection (i.p.; 1 g/kg) while controls received saline injections. Five minutes after the injection, animals were tested in an automated elevated plus maze (EPM) or in automated activity chambers. In addition, injection-free animals were tested for ethanol consumption on day 16 after an overnight water deprivation period. Whereas chronic exposure to 17alpha-meT did not modulate open arm behavior, EtOH-exposed animals made more entries into the open arms than controls (P < 0.05). A significant reduction of risk assessment behaviors (rearing, flat approach behavior, and stretch attended posture) over the EPM was noted for EtOH-exposed animals whereas a reduction in stretch attended postures was observed among 17alpha-meT-exposed animals. Locomotor activity, and light-dark transitions in activity chambers remained unaltered. Exposure to AAS did not modulate EtOH consumption. Our data suggest that exposure to a supraphysiological dose of 17alpha-meT has minimal effects on exploratory-based anxiety.