Inhibition of sexual behaviour in lactating rats

1983 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Södersten ◽  
S. Hansen ◽  
P. Eneroth
Keyword(s):  
Dopamine Receptor ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Daily Treatment ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Serum Prolactin ◽  
Dopamine Receptor Agonist ◽  
Serum Progesterone ◽  
Behavioural Effects

Treatment with oestradiol benzoate (OB; 2–250 μg) and progesterone (0·5–25 mg) failed to induce sexual behaviour in lactating rats 6 days after parturition. Removal of pups permitted the induction of sexual behaviour by OB and progesterone and the inhibitory effect of the presence of pups was proportional to the number present. Ovariectomy of lactating rats or reduction of serum prolactin levels in intact lactating rats by daily treatment with the dopamine receptor agonist bromocriptine (0·5 mg/day) permitted the induction of sexual behaviour despite the presence of suckling pups. Removal of pups from lactating rats and subsequent maintenance of high prolactin levels by daily treatment with the dopamine receptor antagonist domperidone (2·5 mg/day) maintained the state of refractoriness to the behavioural effects of OB and progesterone provided that the ovaries remained in situ. Inhibition of sexual behaviour in lactating rats could be maintained after ovariectomy by implantation of progesterone-filled, but not androgen-filled implants at the time of ovariectomy. Removal of the pups or reduction of prolactin levels by bromocriptine treatment permitted the induction of sexual behaviour by OB in ovariectomized progesterone-implanted lactating rats. Inhibition of the behaviour in ovariectomized progesterone-implanted lactating rats could be maintained after pup removal by daily domperidone treatment. Continuously raised serum progesterone or prolactin levels have no effect on the induction of sexual behaviour in female rats but the present data suggest that during lactation progesterone and prolactin act in synergy to inhibit the behaviour.

Effects of exposure to pups on maternal behaviour, sexual behaviour and serum prolactin concentrations in male rats

1984 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Södersten ◽  
P. Eneroth
Keyword(s):  
Dopamine Receptor ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Behavioural Response ◽  
Daily Treatment ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Serum Prolactin ◽  
Maternal Behaviour ◽  
Dopamine Receptor Agonist ◽  
Continuous Exposure ◽  
Rat Pups

ABSTRACT Male rats showed maternal behaviour within 72 h after the onset of continuous exposure to newborn rat pups. The latency of the behavioural response could be reduced by daily treatment with the dopamine receptor antagonist domperidone (2 × 2·5 mg/rat), which increased serum prolactin concentrations (241·4 ± 26·5 (s.e.m.) μg/l) above those of vehicle-treated males exposed to pups (25·3 ± 11·7 μg/l). Male rats did not respond to exposure to pups by secreting prolactin; keeping endogenous prolactin concentrations at a minimum (2·8±0·1 μg/l) by daily treatment with the dopamine receptor agonist bromocriptine (0·5 mg/rat) did not affect the behavioural response of male rats to newborn pups. Neither exposure to pups nor the modest hyperprolactinaemia induced by daily domperidone treatment affected the display of male sexual behaviour by male rats. J. Endocr. (1984) 102, 115–119

Potentiation by prolactin of the luteotrophic effect of oestradiol in the pregnant rat

1982 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard G. Rodway ◽  
David R. Garris
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Period ◽  
Daily Treatment ◽  
Serum Prolactin ◽  
Renal Capsule ◽  
Serum Progesterone ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Pregnant Rat ◽  
Luteal Function ◽  
Progesterone Secretion

Abstract. The luteotrophic effects of elevated prolactin levels with or without concomitant oestradiol treatment were investigated in the pregnant rat after hysterectomy or hysterectomy plus hypophysectomy. On day 2 of pregnancy, rats were given a single pituitary transplant beneath the renal capsule and were subsequently hysterectomised on day 12. This treatment delayed the next ovulation (as judged by vaginal di-oestrus length) compared to sham-transplanted controls, but did not prevent the fall in serum progesterone concentrations (i.e. luteolysis) resulting from hysterectomy. The administration of 1 or 2 pituitary homo-transplants on day 12 at the time of hysterectomy again prolonged the di-oestrus length but did not prevent subsequent luteolysis. However, daily treatment with 100 μg of oestradiol given to rats which received 2 pituitary transplants on day 2 and which were then hysterectomised on day 12, did result in a maintenance of serum progesterone levels compared to those of oil-treated controls. In a separate study, pregnant rats were hysterectomised and hypophysectomised on day 12. Administration of either 1 or 2 pituitary transplants failed to maintain luteal function. However, concomitant daily treatment with 100 μg of oestradiol from day 12 onward prevented luteolysis and re-instated the day 12–16 rise in serum progesterone common to the intact pregnant rat. Progesterone levels then declined slowly until the end of the sampling period (day 23). Serum prolactin concentrations rose steadily for the first 10 days after insertion of pituitary transplants on day 12 of pregnancy. These data indicate that prolactin and oestradiol can act synergistically to stimulate progesterone secretion from the rat corpus luteum but only in the absence of the in situ pituitary; the effect is not seen unless hypophysectomy has been performed.

Evidence that prolactin does not affect the induction of sexual behaviour by oestradiol and progesterone in ovariectomized rats

1983 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Södersten ◽  
S. Hansen ◽  
P. Eneroth
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Dopamine Receptor ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Serum Prolactin ◽  
Behavioural Effect ◽  
Dopamine Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Oestradiol Benzoate ◽  
Acute Increase

Injection of 2·5 mg of the dopamine receptor antagonist domperidone raised serum prolactin concentrations within 3 h and high prolactin levels were maintained for 12 h in ovariectomized rats pretreated with 2 μg oestradiol benzoate (OB). This dose of domperidone stimulated the display of sexual behaviour in ovariectomized OB-treated rats within 3 h of administration. The behavioural effect of domperidone, but not its effect on serum prolactin concentrations, was blocked by adrenalectomy. Daily treatment with domperidone had no inhibitory effect on the subsequent induction of sexual behaviour by OB and progesterone in ovariectomized rats. A slight facilitation of the behaviour was noticed in OB-treated rats given daily domperidone injections, but this effect was cancelled by adrenalectomy. The results suggest that an acute increase in serum prolactin levels has no effect on the induction of sexual behaviour by OB in itself, but can stimulate the secretion of an adrenal product, perhaps progesterone, which facilitates the behaviour. Similarly, constant high levels of prolactin by themselves have no effect on the subsequent induction of sexual behaviour by OB and progesterone.

FAILURE OF DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE TO ELICIT SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR IN THE FEMALE CAT

1977 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
VERONICA A. CERNY
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
University Of Pennsylvania ◽  
Male Rat ◽  
Peripheral Target ◽  
Target Tissue ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Behavioural Effects ◽  
Male And Female Rats ◽  
Target Organs

Laboratory of Anatomy, Department of Animal Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, U.S.A. (Received 28 March 1977) Testosterones have stimulatory effects on peripheral target tissue and sexual behaviour in male and female rats (Beach, 1942), guinea-pigs (Young, 1961; Diamond & Young, 1963), rabbits (Palka & Sawyer, 1966; Beyer & Rivaud, 1973) and cats (Green, Clemente & de Groot, 1957; Young, 1961; Whalen & Hardy, 1970). 5α-Androstan-17β-ol-3-one (dihydrotestosterone, DHT) has stimulatory effects on peripheral target organs, and like testosterones, a negative feedback effect on the pituitary gland and hypothalamus (Feder, 1971). No behavioural effects were seen in male or female rats when DHT was injected systemically (Beyer, Morali & Cruz, 1971; Feder, 1971) nor in the male rat when it was administered intracerebrally (Johnston & Davidson, 1972). Many experiments support the hypothesis that only androgens that can be aromatized to oestrogens can elicit sexual behaviour and

Inhibition of cytochrome P-450 C17 enzyme by a GnRH agonist in ovarian follicles from gonadotropin-stimulated rats

2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (5) ◽  
pp. E1456-E1464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Griselda Irusta ◽  
Fernanda Parborell ◽  
Marta Tesone
Keyword(s):  
Direct Action ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Serum Progesterone ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Androgen Synthesis ◽  
Cytochrome P 450

Our objective was to study the direct action of a GnRH-I agonist, leuprolide acetate (LA), on ovarian steroidogenesis in preovulatory follicles obtained from equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG)-treated rats. Previously, we have demonstrated an inhibitory effect of LA on steroidogenesis and follicular development. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) exerts its negative effect on follicular development by inhibiting thecal cytochrome P-450 C17 (P450C17) α-hydroxylase expression and, consequently, androgen synthesis. Studies were carried out in prepubertal female rats injected with either eCG (control) or eCG plus LA (LA) and killed at different time points. Immunohistochemical studies indicated that LA induced steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) expression mainly in theca cells of preantral and antral follicles. In addition, serum progesterone levels increased significantly ( P < 0.05), whereas those of androsterone decreased ( P < 0.05) after 8 h of LA treatment. This inhibition caused by LA seemed to be a consequence of the decreased expression of follicular P450C17 α-hydroxylase, as demonstrated by Western blot and RT-PCR techniques. In vitro studies using follicles isolated from 48-h-eCG-treated rats and cultured with LA showed a significant ( P < 0.05) inhibition of FSH-induced androsterone follicular content as well as P450C17 α-hydroxylase protein levels, as determined by Western analysis. However, LA increased StAR protein expression in these follicles without significant changes in P450scc enzyme levels. Taking all these findings into account, we suggest that GnRH-I exerts a direct inhibitory action on gonadotropin-induced follicular development by decreasing the temporal expression of the P450C17 enzyme and, consequently, androgen production, thus reducing the supply of estrogens available to developing follicles.

THE SEQUENCE OF HORMONAL CHANGES DURING PROSTAGLANDIN INDUCED LUTEOLYSIS OF THE SUPERLUTEINIZED RAT OVARY

1978 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 617-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Torjesen ◽  
R. Dahlin ◽  
E. Haug ◽  
A. Aakvaag
Keyword(s):  
Binding Sites ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Serum Prolactin ◽  
Hormonal Changes ◽  
Subsequent Increase ◽  
Serum Progesterone ◽  
Serum Lh ◽  
Prostaglandin F

ABSTRACT Immature female rats were pre-treated with pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) to achieve superluteinization. Eight days after the HCG administration luteolysis was induced by sc injection of 5 μg of the prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) analogue cloprostenol (Estrumate®). The serum levels of progesterone, 20α-dihydroprogesterone (20α-DHP), prolactin (PRL) and luteinizing hormone (LH) as well as the number of ovarian LH binding sites were measured during the first 23 h after cloprostenol injection. The serum levels of progesterone decreased from 500 to 200 ng/ml within 25 min after cloprostenol administration. A further decrease to 20 ng/ml occurred during the next 4 h, and serum progesterone remained low for the rest of the period. An increase in serum prolactin (PRL) to values between 28 and 44 ng/ml was observed after 3 h and the values remained elevated for the next 7 h. Although the serum levels of progesterone declined immediately, the serum 20α-dihydroprogesterone (20α-DHP) levels remained at 60 to 140 ng/ml for the first 5 h and then gradually increased to values corresponding to the initial progesterone levels 14 to 23 h after treatment. The number of ovarian LH binding sites was between 1.2 and 1.4 × 10−12 mol/mg protein during the first 9 h after prostaglandin (PG) injection, and then decrreased to 0.8 and 0.5 × 10−12 mol/mg protein at 14 and 23 h, respectively. The serum LH levels remained below the limit of detection for the assay (10 ng/ml) throughout the observation period. PGF2α injection induced the same basic changes in the serum levels of progesterone and 20α-DHP as cloprostenol treatment. Thus, the first effect of PG treatment measured was an immediate decline in the serum levels of progesterone, and this decline probably initiated the subsequent increase in pituitay PRL and ovarian 20α-DHP secretion. Therefore, the decrease in the number of ovarian LH binding sites appeared to be a consequence rather than a mediator of luteolytic effects of the prostaglandins.

Dissociation between the ovarian factors controlling sexual receptivity and preovulatory secretion of LH in cyclic female rats

1987 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Södersten ◽  
P. Eneroth
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Sexual Receptivity ◽  
Serum Progesterone ◽  
Lh Surge ◽  
Oestradiol Benzoate ◽  
Lh Release ◽  
Lh Secretion ◽  
Intact Rats

ABSTRACT Ovariectomy and treatment with oestradiol benzoate (10 μg OB) on the day before behavioural oestrus eliminated the preovulatory surge of LH and reduced the level of sexual receptivity on the following day. Sexual behaviour, but not the LH surge, was restored by progesterone (0·5 mg) given 18 h later. Injection of OB on the day after behavioural oestrus induced a small release of LH and normal sexual behaviour on the following day. Ovariectomy on the day after behavioural oestrus reduced the stimulatory effect of OB on sexual behaviour and eliminated its weakly stimulatory effect on LH release. Sexual behaviour, but not the small LH surge, was restored in these animals by progesterone (0·5 mg) given 18 h later. Treatment of rats ovariectomized 2 days before the day of the LH surge with implants containing oestradiol or injections of oestradiol (1 μg) induced LH surges but the amplitudes of these LH surges were much smaller than those of the normal LH surge. Treatment of intact rats with OB increased serum progesterone levels 24 h later, an effect which was eliminated by ovariectomy. Injections of LH (20 μg) into intact rats on the day after behavioural oestrus also increased serum progesterone concentrations but failed to stimulate sexual behaviour. It is suggested that OB treatment of intact rats on the day after behavioural oestrus stimulates sexual behaviour by inducing a surge of LH secretion which activates ovarian secretion of progesterone. Thus, oestrogen and progesterone but not the LH surge are essential for sexual behaviour. Whereas oestradiol and progesterone restore normal sexual behaviour in ovariectomized rats, additional ovarian factors may be required for induction of normal LH surges. J. Endocr. (1987) 112, 133–138

Components of the rat conceptus that account for prolactin inhibition

1985 ◽  
Vol 108 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Yogev ◽  
J. Terkel
Keyword(s):  
Corpus Luteum ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Trophoblast Cell ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Total Removal ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Exogenous Progesterone ◽  
Plasma Prl ◽  
Prolactin Inhibition

Abstract. The secretions from developed concepti in the rat appear to inhibit both the rhythmic nocturnal secretion of prolactin (Prl) during the second half of pregnancy and the neurally mediated Prl release in response to suckling stimulation. In order to identify the parts of the concepti capable of inhibiting Prl secretion, the components of the concepti were systematically removed and their effect on plasma Prl levels was examined. In the first experiment, female rats which were simultaneously pregnant and lactating were tested for Prl secretion in response to suckling stimulation after one of the following treatments: 1) removal of the foetuses only, 2) removal of the foetuses and trophoblasts, 3) removal of the complete concepti. In the second experiment, pregnant rats were tested for the presence of nocturnal Prl surges after either removal of the foetuses and trophoblasts or removal of the entire concepti. The results indicate that after removal of the foetuses alone, the inhibition of Prl secretion remains. Following removal of both the foetus and the trophoblast, leaving the decidua in situ with a supplementary progesterone implant, the decidua still retain a partial capacity to inhibit Prl secretion in response to suckling stimulation, while their inhibitory effect on the nocturnal Prl surges was very minute. Degeneration of the decidua occurred following the removal of the trophoblast, when no exogenous progesterone was supplied. The deterioration of the decidua or total removal of the concepti eliminates the entire inhibition of Prl secretion, both on the nocturnal surges as well as in response to suckling stimulation. Thus, it appears that after mid-pregnancy the trophoblast cell secretes a substance that both inhibits Prl secretion and maintains the corpus luteum, whereas the decidua at the same time secretes a substance that has a partial capacity to inhibit Prl secretion in response to suckling stimulation.

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