Influence of time of mating and paced copulation on induction of pseudopregnancy in cyclic female rats

Frye, Cheryl A.; Erskine, Mary S.

doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0900375

Cited by 66 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Paced mating-Paced mating was utilized over standard mating because of its greater ethological relevance and procedures were carried out as previously reported [40][41][42][43]. Paced mating tests were conducted in a chamber (37.5 cm × 75 cm × 30 cm), which was equally divided by a partition that had a small (5 cm in diameter) hole in the bottom center, to allow a female free access to both sides of the chamber, but which prevented the larger stimulus male from moving between sides.…”

Section: 45mentioning

confidence: 99%

Infusions of 3α,5α-THP to the VTA enhance exploratory, anti-anxiety, social, and sexual behavior and increase levels of 3α,5α-THP in midbrain, hippocampus, diencephalon, and cortex of female rats

Frye

Rhodes

2008

Behavioural Brain Research

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Abstract17β-Estradiol (E 2 ) and progesterone (P 4 ) influence the onset and duration of sexual behavior and are also associated with changes in behaviors that may contribute to mating, such as exploration, anxiety, and social behaviors (socio-sexual behaviors). In the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA), the P 4 metabolite, 5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one (3α,5α-THP), modulates lordosis of E 2 -primed rodents; 3α,5α-THP can also influence anxiety and social behaviors. To examine if 3α,5α-THP in the VTA mediates socio-sexual behaviors, we infused 3α,5α-THP to the VTA of diestrous and proestrous rats. As expected, proestrous, compared to diestrous, rats showed more exploratory (open field), anxiolytic (elevated plus maze), pro-social (partner preference, social interaction), and sexual (paced mating) behavior and had increased E 2 , P 4 , dihydroprogesterone (DHP), and 3α,5α-THP in serum, midbrain, hippocampus, diencephalon, and cortex. Infusions of 3α,5α-THP to the VTA, but not control sites, such as the substantia nigra (SN) or central grey (CG), of diestrous rats produced behavioral and endocrine effects akin to that of proestrous rats and increased DHP and 3α,5α-THP levels in midbrain, hippocampus, and diencephalon. Levels of DHP and 3α,5α-THP, but neither E 2 nor P 4 concentrations, in midbrain, hippocampus, diencephalon, and/or cortex were positively correlated with socio-sexual behaviors. Thus, 3α,5α-THP infusions to the VTA, but not SN or CG, can enhance socio-sexual behaviors and increase levels in midbrain, hippocampus, and diencephalon.

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Section: 45mentioning

confidence: 99%

Infusions of 3α,5α-THP to the VTA enhance exploratory, anti-anxiety, social, and sexual behavior and increase levels of 3α,5α-THP in midbrain, hippocampus, diencephalon, and cortex of female rats

Frye

Rhodes

2008

Behavioural Brain Research

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“…For all female rats, vaginal epithelium was obtained during the morning (from 9:00 to 11:00) via lavage and examined daily from the age of 60 days to determine the day of the estrous cycle. Estrus was determined by the characteristic cornification of the vaginal epithelium at this stage [Frye and Erskine, 1990]. Rats were cycled through normal estrous cycles (4-day cycle).…”

Section: Subjects and Rearing Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ontogeny of sex differences in defensive burying behavior in rats: effect of social isolation

Arakawa

2006

Aggressive Behavior

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The aim of the present experiments was to clarify sex differences in socio-developmental factors that affected defense behavior in rats. Sex differences in the defensive burying behavior of rats, and related social factors, were explored in three developmental stages: juvenile, puberty, and adult; 30, 50, and 80 days of age, respectively. The duration of burying, digging into bedding material, stretch-attend postures, and crouch/freezing were measured in a shock-prod test. For males, the duration of burying was longer in the juvenile and pubertal stages than in adulthood. For females, no age differences in the duration of burying were found. Males showed longer burying durations than females in both the juvenile and pubertal stages. For both sexes, the highest duration of digging was found in the juvenile stage, and females showed longer durations of digging than males. Both male and female rats isolated during the juvenile stage, from 26 to 40 days of age, showed smaller durations of burying behavior compared to pair-reared rats. This effect of juvenile isolation was maintained among both adult males and females even when they were returned to pair rearing after isolation. Isolation during adulthood, from 66 to 80 days of age, increased burying behavior in males, but decreased it in females. The durations of digging, stretch-attend postures, and crouch/freezing were not affected by isolation. The decrease in defensive burying and its increase resulting from isolation in adult male rats, suggest that the emergence of adult-like social relationships in males suppressed the duration of burying. Male and female rats isolated during the juvenile stage maintained lower levels of burying, suggesting that social experience as juveniles is important for the emergence of defensive burying behavior.

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“…Mating of naturally receptive or hormone-primed, ovariectomized and/or adrenalectomized rodents increases 3a,5a-THP concentrations in midbrain over that of non-mated rats (Frye & Bayon 1999, Frye & Vongher 1999, Frye 2001. As well, rats that can 'pace', or control their sexual contacts with a male, have enhanced luteal function, fertility, fecundity, serum P 4 , and whole brain 3a,5a-THP levels when compared with rats mated in a standard paradigm, which cannot control receipt and/or timing of their sexual contacts (Erskine et al 1989, Frye & Erskine 1990, Coopersmith & Erskine 1994, Frye et al 1996. However, the extent to which engaging in reproductive and related behaviors may alter progestin biosynthesis has not been well characterized.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Paced mating, when compared with standard mating, in a laboratory setting is more similar to naturalistic and semi-natural mating insofar as female rodents exert much more control over the mating process by leaving the male after a contact and remaining apart for several minutes (McClintock & Adler 1978, Erskine 1985, Frye & Erskine 1990, Xiao & Becker 1997, Frye et al 1998, Zipse et al 2000, Gardener & Clark 2001, Jenkins & Becker 2001, Gonzalez-Flores et al 2004, Coria-Avila et al 2005. Paced mating is characterized by greater expression of exploratory, approach, anti-anxiety, reproductive, and aggressive behaviors when compared with standard mating and altering 3a,5a-THP levels can influence expression of these behaviors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Engaging in paced mating, but neither exploratory, anti-anxiety, nor social behavior, increases 5α-reduced progestin concentrations in midbrain, hippocampus, striatum, and cortex

Frye¹,

Paris²,

Rhodes³

2007

Reproduction

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REPRODUCTION RESEARCHEngaging in paced mating, but neither exploratory, anti-anxiety, nor social behavior, increases 5a-reduced progestin concentrations in midbrain, hippocampus, striatum, and cortex AbstractSequential actions of 17b-estradiol (E 2 ) and progesterone (P 4 ) in the hypothalamus and the P 4 metabolite, 5a-pregnan-3a-ol-20-one (3a,5a-THP), in the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) respectively mediate the initiation and intensity of lordosis of female rats and may also modulate anxiety and social behaviors, through actions in these, and/or other brain regions. Biosynthesis of E 2 , P 4 , and 3a,5a-THP can also occur in brain, independent of peripheral gland secretion, in response to environmental/behavioral stimuli. The extent to which engaging in tasks related to reproductive behaviors and/or mating increased E 2 or progestin concentrations in brain was investigated. In Experiment 1, proestrous rats were randomly assigned to be tested in individual tasks, including the open field, elevated plus maze, partner preference, social interaction, or no test control, in conjunction with paced mating or no mating. Engaging in paced mating, but not other behaviors, significantly increased dihydroprogesterone (DHP) and 3a,5a-THP levels in midbrain, hippocampus, striatum, and cortex. In Experiment 2, proestrous rats were tested in the combinations of the above tasks (open field and elevated plus maze, partner preference, and social interaction) with or without paced mating. As in Experiment 1, only engaging in paced mating increased DHP and 3a,5a-THP concentrations in midbrain, hippocampus, striatum, and cortex. Thus, paced mating enhances concentrations of 5a-reduced progestins in brain areas associated with reproduction (midbrain), as well as exploration/anxiety (hippocampus and striatum) and social behavior (cortex).

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Influence of time of mating and paced copulation on induction of pseudopregnancy in cyclic female rats

Cited by 66 publications

References 16 publications

Infusions of 3α,5α-THP to the VTA enhance exploratory, anti-anxiety, social, and sexual behavior and increase levels of 3α,5α-THP in midbrain, hippocampus, diencephalon, and cortex of female rats

Infusions of 3α,5α-THP to the VTA enhance exploratory, anti-anxiety, social, and sexual behavior and increase levels of 3α,5α-THP in midbrain, hippocampus, diencephalon, and cortex of female rats

Ontogeny of sex differences in defensive burying behavior in rats: effect of social isolation

Engaging in paced mating, but neither exploratory, anti-anxiety, nor social behavior, increases 5α-reduced progestin concentrations in midbrain, hippocampus, striatum, and cortex

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