Effects of estrone, estradiol and estriol combined with dihydrotestosterone on mounting and lordosis behavior in castrated male rats

Prepuberally castrated male rats were injected with estrone (1 or 5 μg), estradiol (1 or 5 μg) or estriol (1, 5, or 25 μg) either alone or in combination with dihydrotestosterone, (0.5 mg). Each of these steroids, when given alone, had no or only weak stimulatory effects on male sexual behavior. When combined with dihydrotestosterone all estrogens stimulated full copulatory behavior, the order of potency being estradiol, estrone, and estriol. Lordosis behavior in response to male mounting or manual stimulation was facilitated by all estrogens. All estrogens caused a slight weight increase of the seminal vesicles, ventral prostate and glans penis.