Effects of progesterone and RU486 on the development and expression of adult male sexual behaviour and gene expression in the amygdala and preoptic area of the hypothalamus

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 916 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. B. Breton ◽  
K. J. Austin ◽  
M. G. Leedy ◽  
B. M. Alexander

The number of progesterone receptors is greater in the male than female neonatal rat hypothalamus. The aims of the present study were to determine developmental effects of progesterone on the expression of adult male sexual behaviour and whether changes in behaviour were reflected by altered gene expression within the hypothalamic preoptic area (POA) or medial amygdala. Male rats were treated with progesterone (40 µg kg–1, i.p.), the progesterone receptor antagonist RU486 (40 µg kg–1, i.p.) or an equal volume of vehicle (10% ethanol, 90% corn oil) on postnatal Days 1–5. Treatment with either progesterone or RU486 inhibited (P ≤ 0.07) the initial expression of consummatory sexual behaviour at 10.5 weeks of age without influencing growth or serum concentrations of testosterone. Sexual interest, as measured by latency to exhibiting mounting behaviour or the number of mounts achieved, was not influenced by treatment with either progesterone or RU486. The effects of treatment with progesterone or RU486 on sexual behaviour were diminished by experience. Microarray analysis of the POA indicated 61 genes that were upregulated and 49 that were downregulated (P ≤ 0.01) following RU486 treatment of male rats. However, the altered expression of selected genes was not confirmed by real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. The expression of targeted genes within the amygdala was not influenced by treatment with either progesterone or RU486. Neonatal treatment with RU486, but not progesterone, decreased testes weight (P = 0.02) without affecting testes morphology. The results indicate that altering the progesterone environment during a critical developmental period affects the expression of behaviour, but that changes in behaviour are not mirrored by the altered expression of selected genes.

2021 ◽  
pp. 107479
Author(s):  
Xiaofan Xiong ◽  
Lin Han ◽  
Meiyang Fan ◽  
Lingyu Zhang ◽  
Liying Liu ◽  
...  

Reproduction ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 435-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. D. Fantie ◽  
R. E. Brown ◽  
W. H. Moger

1961 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Hohlweg ◽  
G. Dörner ◽  
P. Kopp

ABSTRACT In adult male rats subcutaneous injections of 50 μg dienoestrol [3,4-bis (p-hydroxyphenyl)-hexa-2,4-diene] diacetate, given twice weekly, produced an inhibition of spermiogenesis and sexual behaviour resulting in total sterility. By one intratesticular implantation of 3 mg testosterone these alterations could be prevented and even rechanged in spite of continued oestrogen administration. These results prove an important direct influence of testosterone on the generative testicular function.


1974 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. PARROTT

SUMMARY The ability of 19-hydroxytestosterone propionate (150 μg/day) to maintain sexual behaviour, accessory organ weights and the number of penile spines in experienced adult male rats in the 5 weeks after castration was compared with intact males and castrated animals receiving testosterone propionate (75 μg/day) or oil treatment. In a second experiment a group of male rats receiving dihydrotestosterone propionate (150 μg/day) was also included. 19-Hydroxytestosterone did not maintain ejaculatory performance but animals that ejaculated had refractory periods similar to those in intact and testosterone-treated groups. Dihydrotestosterone, however, slowed the rate of decline of ejaculatory performance but the refractory periods were comparable to those in castrated controls. The former action of dihydrotestosterone was attributed to its stimulatory effect on peripheral structures, especially the penile spines. 19-Hydroxytestosterone was shown to have no peripheral effect at doses up to 1800 μg every other day. The results are discussed in terms of a theory of testosterone action involving aromatization in the brain and 5α-reduction peripherally.


1971 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-NP ◽  
Author(s):  
H. H. FEDER

SUMMARY 5α-Androstan-17β-ol-3-one in its free or in its propionate form was injected systemically (125 μg/day/rat) into sexually experienced, adult, castrated, male rats. These compounds were ineffective in activating masculine behaviour patterns, despite having measurable effects on body weight, seminal vesicle weight and penile morphology. The propionate form also had strong anti-gonadotrophic properties, since when it was injected for 6 days into intact, immature, male rats it significantly reduced testicular weight. In contrast, testosterone propionate (125 μg/day/rat) restored male sexual behaviour to the levels found before castration when injected systemically. Testosterone propionate also affected body weight, seminal vesicle weight, penile morphology and the testicular weight of immature males. These effects may have been due in part to conversion of testosterone to 5α-androstan-17β-ol-3-one, but this metabolic step does not seem to be obligatory for activation of male sexual behaviour in rats.


2013 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 100-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chase H. Bourke ◽  
Zachary N. Stowe ◽  
Gretchen N. Neigh ◽  
Darin E. Olson ◽  
Michael J. Owens

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 742-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Patterson ◽  
K. G. Murphy ◽  
E. L. Thompson ◽  
K. L. Smith ◽  
K. Meeran ◽  
...  

1984 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 550-555
Author(s):  
G. Veyssière ◽  
M. Berger ◽  
Ch. Jean-Faucher ◽  
M. de Turckheim ◽  
Cl. Jean

Abstract. Pituitary and testicular function was studied in pubertal and adult rabbits with pseudohermaphroditism secondary to immunization of mothers against testosterone. Circulating testosterone, LH and FSH levels showed a developmental pattern during sexual maturation, similar to that observed in controls. Plasma FSH levels were elevated in male pseudohermaphrodites despite normal plasma testosterone concentrations. Fighting, male sexual behaviour and coitus occurred normally as in controls. The testicular response to endogenous elevated LH levels and the pituitary LH and FSH responses to LRH injection and to castration were similar in affected males and in controls. These observations suggest that inhibition of the central effects of androgens during the embryonic and perinatal period has little or no effect on the differentiation and maturation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-testicular axis in rabbit.


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