Sexual Motivation in the Female and Its Opposition by Stress

Abstract

A well worked-out motivational system in laboratory animals produces estrogen-dependent female sex behavior. Here, we review (a) the logical definition of sexual motivation and (b) the basic neuronal and molecular mechanisms that allow the behavior to occur. Importantly, reproductive mechanisms in the female can be inhibited by stress. This is interesting because, in terms of the specificity of neuroendocrine dynamics in space and time, the two families of phenomena, sex and stress, are the opposite of each other. We cover papers that document stress effects on the underlying processes of reproductive endocrinology in the female. Not all of the mechanisms for such inhibition have been clearly laid out. Finally, as a current topic of investigation, this system offers several avenues for new investigation which we briefly characterize.

Rats selectively bred for showing divergent behavioral traits in response to stress or novelty or spontaneous yawning with a divergent frequency show similar changes in sexual behavior: the role of dopamine

“…During sexual behavior, plasma levels of testosterone have been shown to be raised, especially in sexually experienced rats (see Meraz-Medina et al, 2017, and references therein). Of the neuropeptides and neurotransmitter involved in the control of erectile function and copulatory behavior at the central level, the best known neuropeptides are oxytocin, adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), opioid peptides, and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) (see Bertolini and Gessa, 1981;Dornan and Malsbury, 1989;Argiolas, 1999;Melis, 2004, 2013;Hull et al, 2004;Dominguez, 2006, 2007;Magariños and Pfaff, 2016), while dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, glutamic acid, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), anandamide (an endogenous cannabinoid), and nitric oxide have been the most studied neurotransmitters (see Driscoll et al, 1983;Pfaus and Gorzalka, 1987;Pomerantz, 1990Pomerantz, , 1991Pomerantz et al, 1993;Argiolas, 1994;Hull et al, 2002Hull et al, , 2004Melis and Argiolas, 2002;Melis et al, , 2004Melis et al, , 2005Melis et al, , 2006aMelis et al, , 2012Dominguez, 2006, 2007;Sanna et al, 2011Sanna et al, , 2012bMiwa et al, 2011;Sanna et al, 2015aSanna et al, ,b, 2016Magariños and Pfaff, 2016). At the central level, neurotransmitters and neuropeptides control sexual behavior by acting in several brain areas.…”

Do rats have orgasms?

“…Furthermore, drugs or situations that reduce sympathetic tone can delay or abolish orgasm, whereas drugs or situations that increase sympathetic tone can either increase the magnitude or number of orgasms, although such increases must be specific to, or associated with, sexual interaction (Pfaus et al, 2010). However, if stressors are of sufficient magnitude, then the likelihood of becoming sexually aroused is reduced, making sexual behavior and orgasm unlikely to impossible (Barlow, 1986; Both, Everaerd, & Laan, 2003; Magariños & Pfaff, 2016). …”