Sexual Behavior in Continuously Cycling Rats

Behaviour ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 41 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 288-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna Fitzroy Hardy
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Total Period ◽  
Behavioral Indices ◽  
Sexual Responsiveness

AbstractThe succession of vaginal and behavioral changes was followed throughout the estrous cycle of ten continuously cycling female rats. Interruption of cycles by pregnancy or pseudopregnancy was prevented by the use of the vaginal mask. The behavioral indices were Lordosis Quotient, a measure of sexual responsiveness, and Rejection Quotient, a measure of tolerance by the female of mounting by the male. Before the onset of lordosis, which took place during proestrus, females rejected males on many attempted mounts, although rejection decreased rapidly with rise in frequency of lordosis. Full receptivity was displayed for 6 to 9 hours, but females began to reject the males while still displaying high levels of lordosis. The total period of 19 hours over which lordosis is shown was divided into pre-heat, heat, and post-heat periods.

Evidence for a role for the neurosteroid allopregnanolone in the modulation of reproductive function in female rats

1995 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea R Genazzani ◽  
Marco A Palumbo ◽  
Antonio A de Micheroux ◽  
Paolo G Artini ◽  
Mario Criscuolo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Brain Cortex ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Obstetrics And Gynecology ◽  
Intracerebroventricular Injection ◽  
Medial Basal Hypothalamus

Genazzani AR, Palumbo MA, de Micheroux AA, Artini PG, Criscuolo M, Ficarra G, Guo A-L, Benelli A, Bertolini A, Petraglia E. Purdy RH. Evidence for a role for the neurosteroid allopregnanolone in the modulation of reproductive function in female rats. Eur J Endocrinol 1995;133:375–80. ISSN 0804–4643 The present study investigated the effect of allopregnanolone (5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one) or of passive immunoneutralization of brain allopregnanolone, the most potent steroid produced by neurons, on ovulation rate and sexual behavior in female rats. Allopregnanolone was injected intracerebroventricularly in rats on diestrus and proestrus and tests were done on estrus. The intracerebroventricular injection of allopregnanolone significantly decreased the number of oocytes collected on estrus (p < 0.01). To support a physiological involvement, antiserum to allopregnanolone was injected centrally to block the activity of the endogenous neurosteroid. When administered on diestrus and proestrus or only on proestrus, the antiserum was shown to be correlated with a significant increase (p < 0.01) in oocytes retrieved on estrus. In female rats treated with antiserum to allopregnanolone, the lordosis intensity was augmented significantly as compared to controls. Finally, the possible changes of medial basal hypothalamus concentration of allopregnanolone throughout the estrous cycle and at the time of ovulation were investigated. Hypothalamic extracts were eluted on highpressure liquid chromatography and allopregnanolone concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay. Brain cortex was used as control tissue. Hypothalamic allopregnanolone concentration on proestrus morning and afternoon was found to be significantly lower than in the remaining phases of the estrous cycle (p < 0.01), while no significant changes were observed in brain cortex concentration of allopregnanolone. The present results suggest that hypothalamic allopregnanolone may be involved in the mechanism of ovulation, affecting hormonal and behavioral events. AR Genazzani, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa, via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy

scholarly journals Environmental-Like Exposure to Low Levels of Estrogen Affects Sexual Behavior and Physiology of Female Rats

Endocrinology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 149 (11) ◽  
pp. 5592-5598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Della Seta ◽  
Francesca Farabollini ◽  
Francesco Dessì-Fulgheri ◽  
Leonida Fusani
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Environmental Exposure ◽  
Reproductive Behavior ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Female Sexual Behavior

Xenoestrogens are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that mimic the action of endogenous estrogen hormones. Effects of xenoestrogen on aquatic wildlife are well documented, whereas the experimental evidence for impairment of reproductive behavior and physiology in mammals after exposure to xenoestrogens has been debated. The strongest arguments against such studies have been that the route, time course, and intensity of exposure did not simulate environmental exposure and that the chemicals tested have additional nonestrogenic toxic effects, hindering generalization of actual xenoestrogenic effects. Here we show that environmental-like exposure to the pure estrogen 17α-ethinylestradiol during development alters reproductive behavior and physiology in adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. We simulated environmental exposure by giving low doses (0.4 and 0.004 μg/kg·d) of 17α-ethinylestradiol orally to pregnant females from conception to weaning of the pups, which continued to receive the treatment until puberty. We studied the sexual behavior, estrous cycle, and estradiol plasma levels of intact female rats when they reached 3 months of age. Exposure to the higher dose strongly affected female sexual behavior and physiology, with suppression of lordosis and the estrous cycle and enhanced aggression toward males. The lower dose disrupted appetitive components of sexual behavior that influence the rate of copulation. Estradiol plasma levels were not affected by the treatment. Our study revealed that exposure to low oral doses of a pure estrogen during development alters female sexual behavior and physiology. These results suggest potential risks of reproductive failure from xenoestrogen exposure in realistic ecological conditions.

Effects of the estrous cycle and ovarian hormones on behavioral indices of anxiety in female rats

1996 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 609-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Mora ◽  
Nelson Dussaubat ◽  
Gabriela Díaz-Véliz
Keyword(s):  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Ovarian Hormones ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Behavioral Indices

Sexual Behavior is Enhanced by Regular, Repeated Mating from Young Adulthood to Middle Age in Female Long-Evans Rats

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-177
Author(s):  
Fay A. Guarraci ◽  
Chantal M.F. Gonzalez ◽  
Devon Lucero ◽  
Lourdes K. Davis ◽  
Sarah H. Meerts
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Mating Behavior ◽  
Preference Test ◽  
Sexual History ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rat ◽  
Female Rat ◽  
Repeated Mating ◽  
First Time ◽  
Mating Tests

Background: Aging is associated neuroendocrine changes in women. Animals can be used to model these changes, as well as changes in reproductive behavior. Objective: The current study was designed to characterize mating behavior across age and assess the effects of age and sexual history on mating behavior. Methods: Sexual motivation was assessed using the partner-preference test, in which a female rat is given the choice to interact with a same-sex conspecific or a sexually-vigorous male rat, with which she can mate. Results: Across repeated mating tests (2-12 months of age), female rats spent more time with the male, displayed more solicitation behaviors, were less likely to leave the male after mounts, but visited both stimulus animals less frequently. Comparing a separate group of age-matched, hormoneyoked female rats mated for the first time at 12 months of age to female rats mated for the first time at 2 months of age showed that the 12 month rats visited both stimulus animals less, were less likely to leave the male after mounts, took longer to return to the male after mounts, and displayed fewer solicitation behaviors than their younger counterparts. Relative to middle-aged female rats once they were sexually experienced, 12 month naïve rats spent less time with the male, were more likely to leave the male after mounts, and displayed fewer solicitation behaviors. Furthermore, 12 month naïve rats failed to discriminate between the stimulus animals, visiting both stimulus animals at the same rate unlike 2 month naïve or 12 month experienced rats. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that aging affects some measures of sexual behavior, but most effects of age can be mitigated by regular, repeated mating.

Shifts in preferred learning strategy across the estrous cycle in female rats

2004 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 330-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna L Korol ◽  
Emily L Malin ◽  
Kristine A Borden ◽  
Rachel A Busby ◽  
Julia Couper-Leo
Keyword(s):  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Learning Strategy ◽  
Female Rats

The anorectic effect of fenfluramine is influenced by sex and stage of the estrous cycle in rats

2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (6) ◽  
pp. R1486-R1491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa A. Eckel ◽  
Heidi M. Rivera ◽  
Deann P. D. Atchley
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Gonadal Hormone ◽  
Estrous Female ◽  
Male And Female Rats ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Hormone Status ◽  
Anorectic Effect

The controls of food intake differ in male and female rats. Daily food intake is typically greater in male rats, relative to female rats, and a decrease in food intake, coincident with the estrous stage of the ovarian reproductive cycle, is well documented in female rats. This estrous-related decrease in food intake has been attributed to a transient increase in the female rat's sensitivity to satiety signals generated during feeding bouts. Here, we investigated whether sex or stage of the estrous cycle modulate the satiety signal generated by fenfluramine, a potent serotonin (5-HT) releasing agent. To examine this hypothesis, food intake was monitored in male, diestrous female, and estrous female rats after intraperitoneal injections of 0, 0.25, and 1.0 mg/kg d-fenfluramine. The lower dose of fenfluramine decreased food intake only in diestrous and estrous females, suggesting that the minimally effective anorectic dose of fenfluramine is lower in female rats, relative to male rats. Although the larger dose of fenfluramine decreased food intake in both sexes, the duration of anorexia was greater in diestrous and estrous female rats, relative to male rats. Moreover, the magnitude of the anorectic effect of the larger dose of fenfluramine was greatest in estrous rats, intermediate in diestrous rats, and least in male rats. Thus our findings indicate that the anorectic effect of fenfluramine is modulated by gonadal hormone status.

063 — (ROD0183) Voltage oscillations induced by intrahippocampal pilocarpine in female rats during the estrous cycle

2014 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 208-209
Author(s):  
M.C.A. Rodrigues ◽  
A.R. Isaac ◽  
B.L.S. Andrade-da-Costa
Keyword(s):  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Female Rats

scholarly journals EFFECT OF YOHIMBINE ON CLOMIPRAMINE-INDUCED SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION IN MALE RATS

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Devangam Sheshadri Shekar
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Histopathological Examination ◽  
Red Light ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Male Rat ◽  
Testicular Damage

Object: The present investigation has been carried out to find out the effect of yohimbine on clomipramine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats.Methods: The male rats were treated with clomipramine and yohimbine simultaneously for 60 days. During the treatment, all the male rats werechallenged with the female rats which are in estrous phase and their sexual behavior was observed under dim red light. Half of the animals in each group and remaining on 60 day were sacrificed, blood was collected and serum separated. Testis was collected and preserved in 10% formalin forsubsequent histopathological examination. thResults: The study reveals that yohimbine failed to antagonize the clomipramine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats in all aspects, except thepartial improvement in the sexual behavior.Conclusion: Yohimbine a well-known aphrodisiac failed to antagonize the clomipramine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats. The decrease intestosterone levels, a decrease in spermatozoa count were continued even in the presence of yohimbine except improvement in the sexual behaviorparameters. Hence, yohimbine could not be a safe antidote against clomipramine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats.Keywords: Yohimbine, Clomipramine, Testosterone, Male rat sexual competence, Testicular damage.

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