Behavioral sexual dimorphism in models of anxiety and depression due to changes in HPA axis activity

► Adrenalectomy and corticosterone replacement (ADXR) does not abolish sex differences. ► Females exhibit less anxiety-like behavior and higher depressive-like behavior than males. ► ADXR males but not females show less anxiety-like behavior than sham-operated rats. ► Male and not female behavior is affected by ADXR in anxiety and depression tests.