Sensory Cues Mediating Mating-Induced Potentiation of Sexual Receptivity in Female Rats

Bennett, Amy L.; Blasberg, Meg E.; Blaustein, Jeffrey D.

doi:10.1006/hbeh.2001.1664

Cited by 28 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…This interpretation of VMH function is supported by studies examining mating-induced sexual receptivity. Ovariectomized females given a low dose of estrogen and an amount of experimenter-applied VCS sufficient to induce Fos in the VMH display robust mating behavior with high lordosis quotients compared with those given estrogen alone (42). However, this effect is blocked in animals with bilateral lesions of the VMH and facilitated in animals in which estrogen is administered locally to the VMH (43).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Hormonal-Neural Integration in the Female Rat Ventromedial Hypothalamus: Triple Labeling for Estrogen Receptor-α, Retrograde Tract Tracing from the Periaqueductal Gray, and Mating-Induced Fos Expression

Calizo

Flanagan‐Cato

2003

Endocrinology

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The lordosis reflex, a stereotypic posture adopted by female rats during sexual behavior, requires the convergence of a hormonal signal, estrogen, with a descending neural pathway from the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH). The VMH contains at least three lordosis-relevant neural populations: estrogen receptor-alpha immunoreactive (ERalpha-IR) neurons, VMH neurons that project to the periaqueductal gray (PAG), and neurons that are ERalpha-IR and project to the PAG. Expression of Fos, a marker for neuronal activation, is increased in the VMH after mating. However, it is unknown which, if any, of these lordosis-relevant populations is activated. The majority of ERalpha-IR and projection neurons were not colocalized. Of the Fos-positive neurons, 41% neither contained ERalpha nor projected to the PAG, and 35% contained ERalpha but did not project to the PAG. Only 25% of Fos-positive neurons projected to the PAG, including projection neurons that expressed ERalpha. Our results suggest that mating activates several distinct VMH neuron types. However, ERalpha-IR neurons are activated to a greater extent compared with the PAG-projecting neurons.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Hormonal-Neural Integration in the Female Rat Ventromedial Hypothalamus: Triple Labeling for Estrogen Receptor-α, Retrograde Tract Tracing from the Periaqueductal Gray, and Mating-Induced Fos Expression

Calizo

Flanagan‐Cato

2003

Endocrinology

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“…A considerable body of research suggests that repeated mating of female rats enhances sexual receptivity in females that have not been premated (Auger et al, 1997;Bennett et al, 2001;Dudley and Moss, 1994;Foreman and Moss, 1977;Hardy and DeBold, 1973;Rajendren et al, 1990;1991;Moss, 1993, 1994). Although these increases in sexual behavior have been attributed mainly to VCS received during mating (Bennett et al, 2001), it is important to note that under some experimental conditions repeated mating in the absence of intromissions is sufficient to increase sexual behavior (Hardy and DeBold, 1973). Some evidence suggests that these increases may be mediated by olfactory cues received during mating (Rajendren et al, 1991;Rajendren and Moss, 1994).…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, in some cases, mating stimulation, such as VCS (Bennett et al, 2001) and odor (Rajendren et al, 1990;Rajendren and Moss, 1994), contributes to increases in sexual behavior. However, under some conditions, VCS contributes to subsequent decreases in sexual receptivity approximately 10 h later (Lodder and Zeilmaker, 1976;Reading and Blaustein, 1984).…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies suggest that repeated mating can alter the expression of female sexual behavior (Auger, Moffatt, and Blaustein, 1997;Bennett, Blasberg, and Blaustein, 2001;Dudley and Moss, 1994;Foreman and Moss, 1977;Hardy and DeBold, 1973;Rajendren, Dudley, and Moss, 1990;Rajendren, Dudley, and Moss, 1991;Moss, 1993, 1994). Although VCS seems to be important for these alterations (Bennett et al, 2001), other sensory cues such as odors (Rajendren et al, 1991;Rajendren and Moss, 1994) and other types of tactile stimulation (Hardy and DeBold, 1973) also contribute to the effects of repeated mating on subsequent behavior.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although VCS seems to be important for these alterations (Bennett et al, 2001), other sensory cues such as odors (Rajendren et al, 1991;Rajendren and Moss, 1994) and other types of tactile stimulation (Hardy and DeBold, 1973) also contribute to the effects of repeated mating on subsequent behavior. Therefore, although VCS is typically prevented during repeated testing for estrous abbreviation, it is possible that other sensory cues received during repeated testing contribute to changes in sexual behavior.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mating Stimulation Required for Mating-Induced Estrous Abbreviation in Female Rats: Effects of Repeated Testing

Bennett

Blasberg

Blaustein

2002

Hormones and Behavior

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Mating stimulation, particularly vaginal-cervical stimulation, causes estrous abbreviation in female rats. In most previous studies, female rats were repeatedly tested for sexual behavior until estrous termination occurred. Thus, it was not clear whether sensory stimulation (e.g., flank stimulation, olfactory cues) received during the repeated testing procedure contributed to estrous abbreviation. In Experiment 1, we determined the effect of premating to two or four ejaculations on the rate of estrous termination when a repeated testing procedure was used. We compared ovariectomized, hormone-primed, female rats receiving (1) four ejaculations, (2) two ejaculations, or (3) no premating. Females premated to either two or four ejaculations showed significantly lower levels of sexual receptivity 12 h later than did nonpremated females. These results confirm that premating induces estrous abbreviation when a repeated testing procedure is used. In Experiment 2, we determined whether the repeated testing procedure was necessary for estrous abbreviation. Ovariectomized, hormone-primed female rats were premated to two ejaculations or not premated. The rats were then tested for sexual behavior repeatedly or only once. Females that were premated and repeatedly tested for sexual behavior showed a statistically significant decrease in sexual receptivity compared to females that were not premated; however, the level of sexual receptivity in premated females did not differ from that in non-premated females when they were tested only once. The results suggest that heat duration is the result of a complex interplay between those factors that promote the expression of sexual receptivity and those that inhibit it.

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Feminine Sexual Behavior from Neuroendocrine and Molecular Neurobiological Perspectives

Blaustein¹,

Mani²

2007

Handbook of Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology

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Sensory Cues Mediating Mating-Induced Potentiation of Sexual Receptivity in Female Rats

Cited by 28 publications

References 39 publications

Hormonal-Neural Integration in the Female Rat Ventromedial Hypothalamus: Triple Labeling for Estrogen Receptor-α, Retrograde Tract Tracing from the Periaqueductal Gray, and Mating-Induced Fos Expression

Hormonal-Neural Integration in the Female Rat Ventromedial Hypothalamus: Triple Labeling for Estrogen Receptor-α, Retrograde Tract Tracing from the Periaqueductal Gray, and Mating-Induced Fos Expression

Mating Stimulation Required for Mating-Induced Estrous Abbreviation in Female Rats: Effects of Repeated Testing

Feminine Sexual Behavior from Neuroendocrine and Molecular Neurobiological Perspectives

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