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Hernández-Munive AK, Molina-Leonor MB, Ayala-González BD, Vázquez-Andrade J, Medina-Nieto A, Fernández-Guasti A. Diabetes mellitus and female sexual response: what do animal models tell us? Sex Med Rev 2024; 12:542-550. [PMID: 38879347 DOI: 10.1093/sxmrev/qeae044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 10/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the less explored effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) is female sexual dysfunction. Females of different species have been used as models. AIM To analyze the information of animal models of DM and female sexual response (FSR). METHODS The literature of FSR in models of DM was reviewed. OUTCOMES Paradigm- and diabetes-dependent changes have been found in various aspects of the FSR. RESULTS Females in a type 1 DM (DM1) model show a decrease in the number of proestrus events, and ovariectomized females treated with sex hormones have been used. In these females, a reduction in lordosis has been reported; in proceptivity, the data are contradictory. These females present a decrease in sexual motivation that was restored after exogenous insulin. In the type 2 DM (DM2) model, females show regular estrous cycles, normal levels of lordosis behavior, and, depending on the paradigm, decreased proceptivity. These females display normal preference for sexually active males or their olfactory cues when having free physical contact; they lose this preference when tested in paradigms where physical interaction is precluded. CLINICAL TRANSLATION Preclinical data showing the high deleterious effects of a DM1 model and the less drastic effects under a DM2 model are in accordance with clinical data revealing a much higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women with DM1 than DM2. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS The main strength is the analysis of the changes in various components of FSR in 2 models of DM. The main limitation is the difficulty in extrapolating the data on FSR from rats to women and that most studies focus on evaluating the impact of severe or chronic-moderate hyperglycemia/hyperinsulinemia on the sexual response, without considering other pathophysiologic alterations generated by DM. CONCLUSION Females with severe hyperglycemia have a decrease in FSR, while those with moderate hyperglycemia show much less drastic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Karina Hernández-Munive
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro de investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 14330, México City, México
- División de Neurociencias, Departamento de Neurociencia Cognitiva, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, México City, México
| | | | - Brenda Denisse Ayala-González
- Departamento de Sistemas Biológicos, Unidad Xochimilco, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, 04960 México City, México
| | - Joanna Vázquez-Andrade
- Departamento de Sistemas Biológicos, Unidad Xochimilco, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, 04960 México City, México
| | - Alberto Medina-Nieto
- Departamento de Sistemas Biológicos, Unidad Xochimilco, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, 04960 México City, México
| | - Alonso Fernández-Guasti
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro de investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 14330, México City, México
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Yardimci A, Mulayim S, Kaya Tektemur N, Tektemur A, Erensoy A. Chronic levamisole exposure in male rats alters sexual behavior and induces apoptosis in the testis. Drug Chem Toxicol 2024; 47:534-543. [PMID: 37246936 DOI: 10.1080/01480545.2023.2217483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Levamisole is an anti-helminthic drug developed and introduced in veterinary medicine, and it has been used more frequently after the inclusion of its usage in human medicine regarding disorders with immunomodulatory properties. In recent years, it has started to attract attention since it has beneficial effects on the treatment of COVID-19 due to its immunomodulatory properties. To investigate the effects of levamisole on sexual behavior and the reproductive system in male rats, two groups were formed the vehicle (n = 10) and levamisole (n = 10) groups. The vehicle group was given purified water whereas the levamisole group was administered with levamisole (2 mg/kg) by oral gavage daily for 4 weeks. Levamisole treatment significantly increased the mount latency (ML, P < 0.001) as well as the intromission latency (IL, P < 0.01). It also significantly prolonged postejaculatory interval (PEI, P < 0.01), decreased copulatory rate (CR, P < 0.05), and sexual activity index (SAI, P < 0.05). It significantly decreased serum monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) levels (P < 0.05). Additionally, levamisole induced disorganizations of germinal epithelial cells of seminiferous tubules, congestion, edema in the interstitial area, and metaphase arrest in some spermatocytes (P < 0.001), and it significantly increased the immunohistochemical expressions of apoptotic Bax and cytochrome c, which is crucial proapoptotic protein, in the testis (P < 0.001). Also, levamisole significantly upregulated the mRNA levels of the apoptosis-related key regulatory genes, including Bax (Bcl-2-associated X protein, P = 0.05) and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio (P < 0.01) in testis. The current research is the first to show that levamisole may decrease sexual performance, potency, sexual motivation, and libido and induce apoptosis in the testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Yardimci
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Sefa Mulayim
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Nalan Kaya Tektemur
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Tektemur
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Erensoy
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
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Reciprocal effects of single or repeated exposure to methylphenidate or sex in adult male rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:227-237. [PMID: 36544054 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06300-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Exposure to rewards can alter behavioral reactivity to them. For example, stimulants sensitize locomotor activation, whereas sexual experience sensitizes copulatory behaviors. Moreover, rewards can cross-sensitize one another. Although stimulants are known to cross-sensitize locomotor effects, the evidence for cross-sensitization between stimulants and sex is less clear. OBJECTIVES This study determined the effects of single and repeated pre-exposure to methylphenidate (MPH) or sex on one another in adult male rats. METHODS Cross-sensitization between MPH (5 mg/kg) and sex (30 min with sexually experienced female) was examined. Adult male rats were pre-exposed to 0, 1, or 10 trials of either sex or MPH before being exposed to the other reward. Locomotor chambers were used in MPH trials. Bilevel chambers were used in sexual trials, and sexual behaviors were video scored. RESULTS The amount of prior sexual experience differentially influenced the ceiling of MPH-dependent sensitization; in the last drug trial, locomotion was highest in males given 1 previous sexual trial compared with 0 or 10. Compared with MPH-naive males, pre-exposure to MPH (1 and 10 trials) reduced the number of ejaculations without impacting sexual performance (intromission/mount latency and frequency). CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that the degree of pre-exposure to a reward can differentially affect reactivity to novel rewards. The results showed that previous findings of cross-sensitization between amphetamine and sex do not extend to MPH. However, exposure to MPH prior to sexual experience can increase the amount of sexual stimulation needed to achieve ejaculation.
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Canpolat S, Ulker N, Yardimci A, Tancan E, Sahin E, Yaman SO, Bulmuş O, Alver A, Ozcan M. Irisin ameliorates male sexual dysfunction in paroxetine-treated male rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 136:105597. [PMID: 34861466 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Sexual dysfunction is a common clinical condition due to different causes including the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Especially, SSRI paroxetine is known to cause numerous types of sexual dysfunction in men. There is growing interest in exercise as a non-pharmacological approach for the treatment of SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction. With these in mind, we investigated the effects of irisin, which is a recently detected exercise-linked hormone, on paroxetine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats. Our findings showed that circulating irisin levels were lower in paroxetine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats (20 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks by oral gavage than in vehicle-treated rats). In addition, results from sexual behavioral tests revealed that subcutaneous irisin perfusion (100 ng/kg/day via mini-osmotic pumps for 28 days) ameliorated sexual motivation and copulatory performance in sexually impaired male rats treated with paroxetine. The significantly reduced serum testosterone levels and α1-adrenoceptors (ADRA1A) and tyrosine hydroxylase gene (TH) expression levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in paroxetine-induced sexually dysfunctioning male rats were markedly increased following irisin exposure. Similarly, the expression levels of ADRA1A and TH in the medial preoptic area (mPOA) significantly increased in male rats co-administered with paroxetine and irisin compared to the vehicle-treated male rats. These results demonstrate that irisin may be a therapeutic modality that mimics/supports the beneficial effects of exercise for improving SSRI-associated sexual dysfunction in men through increase in serum testosterone levels and increased expression of α1-adrenoceptors and TH in the NAc and mPOA associated with sexual motivation and copulatory behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinan Canpolat
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey.
| | - Nazife Ulker
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Yardimci
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Emre Tancan
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Elif Sahin
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Serap Ozer Yaman
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Ozgur Bulmuş
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Balikesir University, Balikesir, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Alver
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Mete Ozcan
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
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Chuon T, Feri M, Carlson C, Ondrejik S, Micevych PE, Sinchak K. Progesterone receptor-Src kinase signaling pathway mediates neuroprogesterone induction of the luteinizing hormone surge in female rats. J Neuroendocrinol 2022; 34:e13071. [PMID: 34904297 PMCID: PMC8923351 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Neural circuits in female rats are exposed to sequential estradiol and progesterone to regulate the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and ultimately ovulation. Estradiol induces progesterone receptors (PGRs) in anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) kisspeptin neurons, and as estradiol reaches peak concentrations, neuroprogesterone (neuroP) synthesis is induced in hypothalamic astrocytes. This local neuroP signals to PGRs expressed in kisspeptin neurons to trigger the LH surge. We tested the hypothesis that neuroP-PGR signaling through Src family kinase (Src) underlies the LH surge. As observed in vitro, PGR and Src are co-expressed in AVPV neurons. Estradiol treatment increased the number of PGR immunopositive cells and PGR and Src colocalization. Furthermore, estradiol treatment increased the number of AVPV cells that had extranuclear PGR and Src in close proximity (< 40 nm). Infusion of the Src inhibitor (PP2) into the AVPV region of ovariectomized/adrenalectomized (ovx/adx) rats attenuated the LH surge in trunk blood collected 53 h post-estradiol (50 µg) injection that induced neuroP synthesis. Although PP2 reduced the LH surge in estradiol benzoate treated ovx/adx rats, activation of either AVPV PGR or Src in 2 µg estradiol-primed animals significantly elevated LH concentrations compared to dimethyl sulfoxide infused rats. Finally, antagonism of either AVPV PGR or Src blocked the ability of PGR or Src activation to induce an LH surge in estradiol-primed ovx/adx rats. These results indicate that neuroP, which triggers the LH surge, signals through an extranuclear PGR-Src signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timbora Chuon
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State
University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Micah Feri
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State
University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Claire Carlson
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State
University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Sharity Ondrejik
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State
University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Paul E Micevych
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine
at UCLA, The Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Brain Research Institute, University
of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kevin Sinchak
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State
University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA
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Yardimci A, Ulker N, Bulmus O, Sahin E, Alver A, Gungor IH, Turk G, Artas G, Kaya Tektemur N, Ozcan M, Kelestimur H, Canpolat S. Irisin Improves High-Fat Diet-Induced Sexual Dysfunction in Obese Male Rats. Neuroendocrinology 2022; 112:1087-1103. [PMID: 35189621 DOI: 10.1159/000523689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Obesity is known to cause sexual dysfunction including erectile dysfunction and poor semen quality. Lifestyle modifications such as exercise have increasingly been more recognized to lower the likelihood of having sexual dysfunction or infertility in obese men. In this context, as an exercise-mimetic hormone, irisin has a potential to improve obesity-related reproductive dysfunctions. We aimed to elucidate possible effects of irisin on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced reproductive dysfunction in obese male rats. METHODS Rats were divided into four groups: vehicle, irisin, obese, and obese + irisin. The rats in obese and obese+irisin groups were fed with HFD (60% kcal fat) pellets for 12 weeks to induce obesity, and then obesity-induced sexual dysfunction was confirmed by the sexual behavior test (SBT). Irisin and obese+irisin groups received irisin (100 ng/kg/day) infusion by an s.c. osmotic minipump for 4 weeks after HFD-induced obesity was formed. RESULTS Irisin did improve a number of measures of copulation, including penile erection, ejaculation, and sexual performance, and also improved sperm morphology and motility and decreased fat-induced testicular damage. It decreased serum leptin levels. On the other hand, irisin did not affect serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone. It also increased gene expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and adrenoceptor alpha 1A (ADRA1A) in the medial preoptic area (mPOA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc). CONCLUSION Irisin provided a marked enhancement of HFD-induced decrease in libido, potency, sexual performance, and erection in SBT. Taken together, our results emphasize that irisin has a restorative and improver role in HFD-induced reproductive dysfunctions in obese male rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Yardimci
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Nazife Ulker
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Ozgur Bulmus
- Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Balikesir University, Balikesir, Turkey
| | - Elif Sahin
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Alver
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Ibrahim Halil Gungor
- Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Gaffari Turk
- Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Gokhan Artas
- Department of Medical Pathology, Firat University, Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Nalan Kaya Tektemur
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Mete Ozcan
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Haluk Kelestimur
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Sinan Canpolat
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
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Yardimci A, Akkoc RF, Tektemur A, Ulker N, Kaya Tektemur N, Erdem Guzel E, Canpolat S, Ozan IE. Chronic Maternal Tobacco Smoke Exposure and/or Alpha-Lipoic Acid Treatment Causes Long-Term Deterioration of Testis and Sexual Behavior in Adult Male Rats. J Sex Med 2020; 17:1835-1847. [PMID: 32798198 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tobacco use during pregnancy is known to have several negative effects on the offspring's reproductive health in the long term. The use of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) as a dietary supplement during pregnancy has increased greatly in recent years and has been known to have positive effects on various pregnancy outcomes including miscarriage, diabetic embryopathy, preterm delivery, and congenital malformations. AIM To evaluate the effects of tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) on sexual behavior, reproductive parameters, and testicles in adult male rats and to reveal the possible role of ALA administration on these parameters. METHODS Pregnant rats (n = 7 per group) were treated with tobacco smoke (TS), ALA (20 mg/kg), and TS + ALA for a total of 11 weeks. The following parameters were compared with 8 control rats: puberty parameters, sexual behavior; levels of serum gonadotropins and testosterone, total antioxidant status, and total oxidant status; the expression of the apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 and caspase 9 mRNA levels in the testis; and assessment of immunohistochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay of testis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Sexual behavior, changes in puberty parameters, and hormonal and genetic alterations were the outcomes analyzed in this study. RESULTS Maternal TSE caused a significant decrease in the number of intromissions compared to the control group. Similarly, ALA decreased erectile function in sexual behavior by decreasing the number of intromissions and intromission ratio in the ALA group compared to the control group. In addition, TSE and ALA treatment caused an impairment of some consummatory sexual behaviors. Also, in parallel with this inhibitory effect, the age of pubertal onset was significantly delayed in the TS + ALA group compared to other groups. Also, histopathological changes in testicular tissue, oxidative stress markers, apoptotic index, and mRNA levels of apoptosis-related genes increased in all treatment groups. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS The use of ALA and/or tobacco products during pregnancy may adversely affect the reproductive health of male newborns in the long term. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to show the effects of maternal ALA treatment and/or TSE on the sexual behavior and reproductive parameters in male rats; however, the study is based on an animal model, and the present findings partially reflect the characteristics of human sexual behavior. CONCLUSION Maternal TSE and/or ALA treatment may impair sexual behavior in adulthood in male rats because of testicular damage caused by oxidative stress during gonadal development. Yardimci A, Akkoc RF, Tektemur A, et al. Chronic Maternal Tobacco Smoke Exposure and/or Alpha-Lipoic Acid Treatment Causes Long-Term Deterioration of Testis and Sexual Behavior in Adult Male Rats. J Sex Med 2020;17:1835-1847.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Yardimci
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey.
| | - Ramazan Fazil Akkoc
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Tektemur
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Nazife Ulker
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Nalan Kaya Tektemur
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Elif Erdem Guzel
- Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Mardin Artuklu University, Mardin, Turkey
| | - Sinan Canpolat
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Ibrahim Enver Ozan
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey
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Maseroli E, Santangelo A, Lara-Fontes B, Quintana GR, Mac Cionnaith CE, Casarrubea M, Ricca V, Maggi M, Vignozzi L, Pfaus JG. The non-aromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) facilitates sexual behavior in ovariectomized female rats primed with estradiol. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 115:104606. [PMID: 32087523 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
It is still unclear whether Testosterone (T) increases sexual desire through a stimulation of the androgen receptor in relevant brain regions or through its conversion to estrogens. The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanisms of T facilitation of female sexual desire by assessing the effect of a non-aromatizable androgen (Dihydrotestosterone, DHT) in a validated animal model. Ovariectomized (OVX) Long-Evans rats were treated with oil (O) + O, 10 mcg Estradiol Benzoate (EB) + O, 10 mcg EB + 500 mcg Progesterone (P), O + 500 mcg DHT or 10 mcg EB + 500 mcg DHT (n = 12 per group). EB was administered 48 h, while P and DHT 4 h, prior to 4 sexual behavioral testing sessions in bisected unilevel pacing chambers. Appetitive behaviors (the frequencies of hops/darts and solicitations) were considered as the main outcome measure. Sexual receptivity indexes [lordosis magnitude, expressed as lordosis rating (LR), and lordosis quotient (LQ)], rejection responses, as well as mounts, intromissions and ejaculations received from the male were also coded. The probability of transition among sexual behaviors was evaluated by Transition Matrices; T-Pattern analysis was performed to detect hidden repeated temporal behavioral sequences. Preliminary analyses found no statistically significant differences between the O + O and EB + O groups, therefore we excluded the EB + O group from further analyses. Rats treated with EB + DHT displayed significantly more appetitive behaviors compared to negative controls (O + O and O + DHT), whereas no difference was observed between EB + DHT rats and positive controls (EB + P); noteworthy, a higher number of appetitive behaviors was observed in the O + DHT group compared to the O + O group. Furthermore, rats treated with EB + DHT showed significantly higher receptivity measures (LR and LQ) and received more mounts, intromissions and ejaculations compared to negative controls (O + O and O + DHT), to levels equivalent to EB + P. No differences were detected in female-male mounts or rejection responses among the 4 groups. Under a qualitative perspective, full solicitation was found exclusively in T-patterns of the EB + DHT group, which was also the only one to display T-patterns of higher order encompassing appetitive behaviors-only events. In conclusion, the administration of DHT in EB-primed OVX Long-Evans rats enhances sexual behavior measures. Specifically, DHT seems to stimulate sequences of appetitive behaviors separated from copulative/reproductive measures. Our data support an independent role of androgens in the facilitation of female sexual desire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Maseroli
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, Florence 50139, Italy; Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6 Canada
| | - Andrea Santangelo
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences. University of Florence, Italy; Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.). Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", Corso Tukory 129, Palermo 90134, Italy
| | - Beatriz Lara-Fontes
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6 Canada; Centro De Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, VER 91193, Mexico
| | - Gonzalo Renato Quintana
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6 Canada
| | - Conall E Mac Cionnaith
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6 Canada
| | - Maurizio Casarrubea
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.). Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", Corso Tukory 129, Palermo 90134, Italy
| | - Valdo Ricca
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences. University of Florence, Italy
| | - Mario Maggi
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, Florence 50139, Italy; I.N.B.B., Biostructures and Biosystems National Institute, Viale Delle Medaglie d'Oro 305, Rome 00136, Italy
| | - Linda Vignozzi
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, Florence 50139, Italy; I.N.B.B., Biostructures and Biosystems National Institute, Viale Delle Medaglie d'Oro 305, Rome 00136, Italy.
| | - James G Pfaus
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6 Canada; Centro De Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, VER 91193, Mexico
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Mac Cionnaith CE, Lemay A, Gomez-Perales EL, Robert G, Cernik R, Brake WG, Pfaus JG. Fos expression is increased in oxytocin neurons of female rats with a sexually conditioned mate preference for an individual male rat. Horm Behav 2020; 117:104612. [PMID: 31647923 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Evidence suggests an important role of Pavlovian learning in sexual partner selection. Female rats that experience paced copulation with a male scented with a neutral odor selectively solicit and receive ejaculations from the scented male relative to an unscented male. Exposure to the conditioned odor alone induces Fos protein in regions of the brain associated with sexual excitation. Here we tested whether female rats can be conditioned to show a sexual preference for an unscented male rat of the same strain. Female Long-Evans rats were given 10 copulatory trials with either a one-hole pacing divider or a four-hole pacing divider in a unilevel chamber with the same conspecific male (n = 16). Females were then given an open-field partner preference test with the paired male versus a novel male. After two reconditioning trials females were exposed to the partner or a novel male to induce Fos expression. Females that paced with the one-hole divider received the first ejaculation and more ejaculations overall from the paired compared to novel male. Fos immunoreactivity within oxytocin neurons in the PVN, mPOA, and VMH was increased in females with a preference that were exposed to the paired male. These data indicate that female rats can form selective sexual preferences for an individual conspecific and that their formation depends on the type of pacing during conditioning. These findings further suggest the involvement of oxytocin in the display of conditioned preferences. Thus, early copulatory experience appears to determine the mating strategy used by female rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conall E Mac Cionnaith
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada.
| | - Alice Lemay
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Eamonn L Gomez-Perales
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Genevieve Robert
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Rebecca Cernik
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Wayne G Brake
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - James G Pfaus
- Centro de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, VER 91193, Mexico
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10
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Domínguez-Ordóñez R, García-Juárez M, Lima-Hernández FJ, Gómora-Arrati P, Domínguez-Salazar E, Luna-Hernández A, Hoffman KL, Blaustein JD, Etgen AM, González-Flores O. Protein kinase inhibitors infused intraventricularly or into the ventromedial hypothalamus block short latency facilitation of lordosis by oestradiol. J Neuroendocrinol 2019; 31:e12809. [PMID: 31715031 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
An injection of unesterified oestradiol (E2 ) facilitates receptive behaviour in E2 benzoate (EB)-primed, ovariectomised female rats when it is administered i.c.v. or systemically. The present study tested the hypothesis that inhibitors of protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase G (PKG) or the Src/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) complex interfere with E2 facilitation of receptive behaviour. In Experiment 1, lordosis induced by i.c.v. infusion of E2 was significantly reduced by i.c.v. administration of Rp-cAMPS, a PKA inhibitor, KT5823, a PKG inhibitor, and PP2 and PD98059, Src and MAPK inhibitors, respectively, between 30 and 240 minutes after infusion. In Experiment 2, we determined whether the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) is one of the neural sites at which those intracellular pathways participate in lordosis behaviour induced by E2 . Administration of each of the four protein kinase inhibitors into the VMH blocked facilitation of lordosis induced by infusion of E2 also into the VMH. These data support the hypothesis that activation of several protein kinase pathways is involved in the facilitation of lordosis by E2 in EB-primed rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymundo Domínguez-Ordóñez
- Licenciatura en Ingeniería Agronómica y Zootecnia, Complejo Regional Centro, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Tecamachalco, Mexico
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Center for Neuroendocrine Studies, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Marcos García-Juárez
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala-CINVESTAV, Tlaxcala, México
| | - Francisco J Lima-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala-CINVESTAV, Tlaxcala, México
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México
| | - Porfirio Gómora-Arrati
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala-CINVESTAV, Tlaxcala, México
| | - Emilio Domínguez-Salazar
- Área de Neurociencias, Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Iztapalapa, México
| | - Ailyn Luna-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala-CINVESTAV, Tlaxcala, México
| | - Kurt L Hoffman
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala-CINVESTAV, Tlaxcala, México
| | - Jeffrey D Blaustein
- Licenciatura en Ingeniería Agronómica y Zootecnia, Complejo Regional Centro, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Tecamachalco, Mexico
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Center for Neuroendocrine Studies, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Anne M Etgen
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Oscar González-Flores
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala-CINVESTAV, Tlaxcala, México
- Área de Neurociencias, Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Iztapalapa, México
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11
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Jones SL, Rosenbaum S, Gardner Gregory J, Pfaus JG. Aromatization Is Not Required for the Facilitation of Appetitive Sexual Behaviors in Ovariectomized Rats Treated With Estradiol and Testosterone. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:798. [PMID: 31447629 PMCID: PMC6691068 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Testosterone can be safely and effectively administered to estrogen-treated post-menopausal women experiencing hypoactive sexual desire. However, in the United States and Canada, although it is often administered off-label, testosterone co-administered with estradiol is not a federally approved treatment for sexual arousal/desire disorder, partly because its mechanism is poorly understood. One possible mechanism involves the aromatization of testosterone to estradiol. In an animal model, the administration of testosterone propionate (TP) given in combination with estradiol benzoate (EB) significantly increases sexually appetitive behaviors (i.e., solicitations and hops/darts) in ovariectomized (OVX) Long-Evans rats, compared to those treated with EB-alone. The goal of current study was to test whether blocking aromatization of testosterone to estradiol would disrupt the facilitation of sexual behaviors in OVX Long-Evans rats, and to determine group differences in Fos immunoreactivity within brain regions involved in sexual motivation and reward. Groups of sexually experienced OVX Long-Evans rats were treated with EB alone, EB+TP, or EB+TP and the aromatase inhibitor Fadrozole (EB+TP+FAD). Females treated with EB+TP+FAD displayed significantly more hops and darts, solicitations and lordosis magnitudes when compared to EB-alone females. Furthermore, TP, administered with or without FAD, induced the activation of Fos-immunoreactivity in brain areas implicated in sexual motivation and reward including the medial preoptic area, ventrolateral division of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, the nucleus accumbens core, and the prefrontal cortex. These results suggest that aromatization may not be necessary for TP to enhance female sexual behavior and that EB+TP may act via androgenic pathways to increase the sensitivity of response to male-related cues, to induce female sexual desire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherri Lee Jones
- Department of Psychology, Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Stephanie Rosenbaum
- Department of Psychology, Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - James Gardner Gregory
- Department of Psychology, Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - James G Pfaus
- Department of Psychology, Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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12
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Tominna R, Chokr S, Feri M, Chuon T, Sinchak K. Plasma membrane G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER) mediates rapid estradiol facilitation of sexual receptivity through the orphanin-FQ-ORL-1 system in estradiol primed female rats. Horm Behav 2019; 112:89-99. [PMID: 30981690 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In estradiol-primed nonreceptive ovariectomized rats, activation of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER) in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH) rapidly facilitates sexual receptivity (lordosis). Estradiol priming activates ARH β-endorphin (β-END) neurons that then activate medial preoptic (MPN) μ-opioid receptors (MOP) to inhibit lordosis. ARH infusion of non-esterified 17β-estradiol (E2) 47.5 h after 17β-estradiol benzoate (2 μg EB) priming deactivates MPN MOP and rapidly facilitates lordosis within 30 min via activation of GPER. Since it was unclear where GPERs were located in the neuron, we tested the hypothesis that GPER signaling is initiated at the plasma membrane. Membrane impermeable estradiol (17β-estradiol conjugated to biotin; E-Biotin) infused into the ARH of EB primed rats facilitated lordosis within 30 min, and MPN MOP was deactivated. These actions were blocked by pretreating with GPER antagonist, G-15. Further, we used cell fractionation and western blot techniques to demonstrate that GPER is expressed both in plasma membrane and cytosolic ARH fractions. In previous studies, the orphanin FQ/nociceptin-opioid receptor-like receptor-1 (OFQ/N-ORL-1) system mediated estradiol-only facilitation of lordosis. Therefore, we tested whether the OFQ/N-ORL-1 system mediates E-Biotin-GPER facilitation of lordosis. Pretreatment of UFP-101, an ORL-1 selective antagonist, blocked the facilitation of lordosis and deactivation of MPN MOP by ARH infusion of E-Biotin. Double-label immunohistochemistry revealed that GPER is expressed within approximately 70% of OFQ/N neurons. These data indicate that membrane GPER mediates the E2/E-Biotin facilitation of lordosis by inducing OFQ/N neurotransmission, which inhibits β-END neurotransmission to reduce MPN MOP activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reema Tominna
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States of America
| | - Sima Chokr
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States of America
| | - Micah Feri
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States of America
| | - Timbora Chuon
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States of America
| | - Kevin Sinchak
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States of America.
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13
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Gerson CA, Mac Cionnaith CE, Quintana GR, Pfaus JG. Effects of ovarian hormones on the emission of 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations during distributed clitoral stimulation in the rat. Horm Behav 2019; 109:1-9. [PMID: 30690029 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Fifty-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) are emitted by adult rats during appetitive phases of behavior in response to stimuli thought to be associated with a positive affective state. In particular, 50-kHz USVs with rapid frequency oscillations, known as trills and flat-trills, in which these oscillations are flanked by a monotonic portion, are together positively correlated with appetitive behaviors such as rough and tumble play, drug and natural reward, and mating. Female rats produce 50-kHz USVs during a variety of sexual contexts, yet data are still vague as female sexual behavior is seldom studied on its own. Distributed clitoral stimulation (CLS) offers a unique approach to investigating female 50-kHz USVs as it mimics stimulation received during mating. Although CLS induces a sexual reward state, it is unknown whether CLS elicits trills and flat-trills. We addressed this question using eight ovariectomized rats, we investigated whether ovarian hormones augmented these call subtypes in response to CLS. The combined and separate effects of estradiol benzoate (EB) and progesterone (P), and oil vehicle were assessed through comparison of these call subtypes between CLS and inter-CLS interval. We found that CLS with EB + P significantly increased call duration and rate, lowered peak frequency, and widened the bandwidth of trills. Flat-trills showed a similar pattern except for call duration. Call distribution during the CLS and inter-CLS interval suggest that trill and flat-trills may be indicative of both anticipatory and sexual reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine A Gerson
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
| | - Conall E Mac Cionnaith
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Gonzalo Renato Quintana
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - James G Pfaus
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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14
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Arnold MR, Thallon CL, Pitkofsky JA, Meerts SH. Sexual experience confers resilience to restraint stress in female rats. Horm Behav 2019; 107:61-66. [PMID: 30528557 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
During paced mating, sexually experienced female rats spend more time with the male, return to the male more quickly after intromission, and exhibit shorter interintromission intervals as compared to sexually naïve rats. Factors that trigger the shift in paced mating behavior are unknown. The present study used the elevated plus maze to test whether anxiety-like behavior differs as a function of sexual experience. Ovariectomized, Long-Evans female rats were primed with estradiol benzoate plus progesterone (EB + P) and then either received four, twice weekly, paced mating treatments to gain sexual experience (Experienced) or remained sexually naïve (Naïve) but were exposed to an empty mating apparatus. In Experiment 1, anxiety-like behavior was compared between Experienced or Naïve female rats that were primed with either EB + P or oil. Significantly more time was spent in open arms under EB + P vs. oil, independent of sexual history. To test whether exposure to an acute stressor before elevated plus maze testing affected anxiety-like behavior, EB + P treated, Experienced or Naïve rats received paced mating (Experiment 2) or restraint (Experiment 3) immediately prior to the elevated plus maze task. Restraint, but not mating, led to less anxiety-like behaviors for Experienced rats compared to Naïve rats. Collectively, our data shows that one component of the shift in paced mating behavior that occurs with sexual experience appears to be altered stress responsiveness. We propose that mating is a beneficial stressor that, when repeated, increases the ability to cope with anxiety-producing events such as aversive components of mating or non-voluntary stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moriah R Arnold
- Department of Psychology, Carleton College, Northfield, MN 55057, United States of America
| | - Claire L Thallon
- Department of Psychology, Carleton College, Northfield, MN 55057, United States of America
| | - Joshua A Pitkofsky
- Department of Psychology, Carleton College, Northfield, MN 55057, United States of America
| | - Sarah H Meerts
- Department of Psychology, Carleton College, Northfield, MN 55057, United States of America.
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15
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Micevych PE, Sinchak K. Extranuclear signaling by ovarian steroids in the regulation of sexual receptivity. Horm Behav 2018; 104:4-14. [PMID: 29753716 PMCID: PMC6240501 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Paul E Micevych
- Dept of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of the UCLA Brain Research Institute, United States
| | - Kevin Sinchak
- Dept of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, United States.
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16
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Abstract
Reproductive behavior is the behavior related to the production of offspring and includes all aspects from the establishment of mating systems, courtship, sexual behavior, and parturition to the care of young. In this chapter, I outline the hormonal regulation of the estrous cycle, followed by a description of the neural regulation of female sexual behavior. Ovarian hormones play an important role in the induction of ovulation and behavioral estrus, in which they interact closely with several neurotransmitters and neuropeptides to induce sexual behavior. This chapter discusses the latest research on the role of estrogen, progesterone, serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, oxytocin, and GABA in female mating behavior. In addition, the most relevant brain areas, such as the preoptic area and the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, in which these regulations take place, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eelke M S Snoeren
- Department of Psychology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
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17
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Progress in the diagnosis and management of adolescent endometriosis: an opinion. Reprod Biomed Online 2017; 36:102-114. [PMID: 29174167 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2017.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Revised: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence indicates that early onset endometriosis (EOE), starting around menarche or early adolescence, may have an origin different from the adult variant, originating from neonatal uterine bleeding (NUB). This implies seeding of naïve endometrial progenitor cells into the pelvic cavity with NUB; these can then activate around thelarche. It has its own pathophysiology, symptomatology and risk factors, warranting critical management re-evaluation. It can also be progressive, endangering future reproductive capacity. This variant seems to be characterized by the presence of ovarian endometrioma. Today, the diagnosis of endometriosis in young patients is often delayed for years; if rapidly progressive, it can severely affect pelvic organs, even in the absence of serious symptoms. Given the predicament, great attention must be paid to symptomatology that is often non-specific, justifying a search for new, simple, non-invasive markers of increased risk. Better use of modern imaging techniques will aid considerably in screening for the presence of EOE. Traditional laparoscopy should be limited to cases in which imaging gives rise to suspicion of severity and a stepwise, minimally invasive approach should be used, followed by medical treatment to prevent recurrence. In conclusion, EOE represents a condition necessitating early diagnosis and stepwise management, including medical treatment.
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18
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Jones SL, Ismail N, Pfaus JG. Facilitation of sexual behavior in ovariectomized rats by estradiol and testosterone: A preclinical model of androgen effects on female sexual desire. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 79:122-133. [PMID: 28278441 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2016] [Revised: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
In the United States and Canada, there are no approved treatments for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in postmenopausal women. Testosterone improves female sexual desire in naturally- and surgically-menopausal women maintained on estrogen replacement therapy, and long-term safety data from randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials has yielded promising results. However, the mechanisms associated with its efficacy are not known, and could be addressed using preclinical rodent models; yet there is no systematic evaluation of the effects of estradiol and testosterone on female rat sexual behavior. The aim of these studies was to assess whether testosterone propionate (TP) facilitates sexual behaviors, particularly appetitive sexual behaviors, in Long-Evans and Wistar ovariectomized (OVX) rats primed with estradiol benzoate (EB). In Experiment 1, Long-Evans OVX rats were treated with Oil (O), 10μg EB+O, O+200μg TP, 10μg EB+500μg progesterone (P), or 10μg EB+200μg TP. In Experiment 2a, Wistar OVX rats were treated with varying doses of EB (2.5, 5, or 10μg) 48h prior, and TP (0, 200, or 400μg) 4h prior to testing in a Latin-Square design. A subset of animals was used in Experiment 2b and treated sequentially with EB (0, 2.5, 5, or 10μg) followed by TP (0, 200, or 400μg, in a Latin-Square design) 48h prior to sexual behavior testing. All tests occurred in the bilevel pacing chamber. Frequencies of female appetitive (hops/darts, solicitations, level changes) and consummatory (lordosis quotient and magnitude) sexual behaviors as well as the number of defensive behaviors towards males were scored. Number of mounts, intromissions and ejaculations from males were also scored. In EB-primed OVX Long-Evans rats, 200μg TP administered 4h prior to testing facilitated hops/darts and lordosis ratings beyond EB alone, and to levels equivalent to EB+P. In contrast, that regimen was not successful in EB-primed OVX Wistar rats. When EB and TP were co-administered 48h prior to testing, 10μg EB+200μg TP significantly increased hops/darts and level changes beyond that observed by 10μg EB alone. In summary, the administration of EB and TP to OVX Long-Evans and Wistar rats facilitates appetitive measures of sexual behavior. Strain differences exist that likely reflect underlying differences in sensitivities to EB, and the EB-primed OVX Long-Evans rat may be useful for studying mechanisms of TP-facilitation of desire due to higher baseline sexual inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherri Lee Jones
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Perry Pavilion, 6875 LaSalle Blvd., Verdun, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke West, Montreal, QC, H4B 1R6 Canada.
| | - Nafissa Ismail
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke West, Montreal, QC, H4B 1R6 Canada
| | - James G Pfaus
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke West, Montreal, QC, H4B 1R6 Canada
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19
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Meerts SH, Anderson KS, Farry-Thorn ME, Johnson EG, Taxier L. Prepubertal ovariectomy modulates paced mating behavior but not sexual preference or conditioned place preference for mating in female rats. Physiol Behav 2017; 171:142-148. [PMID: 28082246 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2016] [Revised: 01/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The present study investigated whether the presence or absence of peripubertal ovarian hormones affects sexual preference and conditioned place preference for paced mating in adult female rats primed with 10μg estradiol benzoate and 1mg progesterone. Ovariectomy (OVX) occurred either before or after pubertal development, and 4weeks later rats began a series of behavioral tests. Rats with ovaries removed before the pubertal timeframe (Prepubertal OVX) were more active, more likely to withdrawal from the male compartment, and did not discriminate between mounts and intromissions during paced mating relative to rats with ovaries during puberty (Adult OVX). Both Adult OVX and Prepubertal OVX rats showed a higher preference for the male when hormone primed vs. oil treated and a conditioned place preference for paced mating behavior. The results of the present study demonstrate that some, but not all, aspects of female sexual behavior require ovarian hormones during puberty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah H Meerts
- Department of Psychology, Carleton College, Northfield, MN 55057, United States.
| | - Kelly S Anderson
- Department of Psychology, Carleton College, Northfield, MN 55057, United States
| | - Molly E Farry-Thorn
- Department of Psychology, Carleton College, Northfield, MN 55057, United States
| | - Elliott G Johnson
- Department of Psychology, Carleton College, Northfield, MN 55057, United States
| | - Lisa Taxier
- Department of Psychology, Carleton College, Northfield, MN 55057, United States
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20
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Long N, Long B, Mana A, Le D, Nguyen L, Chokr S, Sinchak K. Tamoxifen and ICI 182,780 activate hypothalamic G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 to rapidly facilitate lordosis in female rats. Horm Behav 2017; 89:98-103. [PMID: 28063803 PMCID: PMC5359066 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Revised: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In the female rat, sexual receptivity (lordosis) can be facilitated by sequential activation of estrogen receptor (ER) α and G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER) by estradiol. In the estradiol benzoate (EB) primed ovariectomized (OVX) rat, EB initially binds to ERα in the plasma membrane that complexes with and transactivates metabotropic glutamate receptor 1a to activate β-endorphin neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH) that project to the medial preoptic nucleus (MPN). This activates MPN μ-opioid receptors (MOP), inhibiting lordosis. Infusion of non-esterified 17β-estradiol into the ARH rapidly reduces MPN MOP activation and facilitates lordosis via GPER. Tamoxifen (TAM) and ICI 182,780 (ICI) are selective estrogen receptor modulators that activate GPER. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that TAM and ICI rapidly facilitate lordosis via activation of GPER in the ARH. Our first experiment demonstrated that injection of TAM intraperitoneal, or ICI into the lateral ventricle, deactivated MPN MOP and facilitated lordosis in EB-primed rats. We then tested whether TAM and ICI were acting rapidly through a GPER dependent pathway in the ARH. In EB-primed rats, ARH infusion of either TAM or ICI facilitated lordosis and reduced MPN MOP activation within 30min compared to controls. These effects were blocked by pretreatment with the GPER antagonist, G15. Our findings demonstrate that TAM and ICI deactivate MPN MOP and facilitate lordosis in a GPER dependent manner. Thus, TAM and ICI may activate GPER in the CNS to produce estrogenic actions in neural circuits that modulate physiology and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Long
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States
| | - Bertha Long
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States
| | - Asma Mana
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States
| | - Dream Le
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States
| | - Lam Nguyen
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States
| | - Sima Chokr
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States
| | - Kevin Sinchak
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States.
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Södersten P. Steinach and Young, Discoverers of the Effects of Estrogen on Male Sexual Behavior and the "Male Brain". eNeuro 2015; 2:ENEURO.0058-15.2015. [PMID: 26601123 PMCID: PMC4647061 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0058-15.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2015] [Revised: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In the 1930s, Eugen Steinach's group found that estradiol induces lordosis in castrated rats and reduces the threshold dose of testosterone that is necessary for the induction of ejaculation, and that estradiol-treated intact rats display lordosis as well as mounting and ejaculation. The bisexual, estrogen-sensitive male had been demonstrated. Another major, albeit contrasting, discovery was made in the 1950s, when William Young's group reported that male guinea pigs and prenatally testosterone-treated female guinea pigs are relatively insensitive to estrogen when tested for lordosis as adults. Reduced estrogen sensitivity was part of the new concept of organization of the neural tissues mediating the sexual behavior of females into tissues similar to those of males. The importance of neural organization by early androgen stimulation was realized immediately and led to the discovery of a variety of sex differences in the brains of adult animals. By contrast, the importance of the metabolism of testosterone into estrogen in the male was recognized only after a delay. While the finding that males are sensitive to estrogen was based on Bernhard Zondek's discovery in 1934 that testosterone is metabolized into estrogen in males, the finding that males are insensitive to estrogen was based on the hypothesis that testosterone-male sexual behavior is the typical relationship in the male. It is suggested that this difference in theoretical framework explains the discrepancies in some of the reported results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per Södersten
- Section of Applied Neuroendocrinology, Karolinska Institutet , S-141 04 Huddinge, Sweden
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22
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Jones SL, Germé K, Graham MD, Roy P, Gardner Gregory J, Rosenbaum S, Parada M, Pfaus JG. Vaginocervical stimulation attenuates the sensitization of appetitive sexual behaviors by estradiol benzoate in the ovariectomized rat. Horm Behav 2015; 75:70-7. [PMID: 26278846 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Revised: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The acute administration of estradiol benzoate (EB) to the ovariectomized (OVX) rat induces low levels of lordosis while sexually appetitive behaviors (e.g., hops, darts, solicitations) are absent, yet the repeated administration of EB results in a behavioral sensitization in which lordosis is potentiated and sexually appetitive behaviors are induced. We have shown that repeated copulation attenuates the sensitization of appetitive sexual behaviors. Here, we assessed which component of male stimulation during copulation is involved in the attenuation. On 8 occasions, sexually experienced OVX Long-Evans rats were treated with 10μgEB and 48h later assigned to one of six groups that differed in their experience on intermediates tests (2-7). One was given repeated access to a male (EB/Male), and another was placed in the copulation chamber alone (EB/Alone) on intermediate tests. Three groups were given one of three somatosensory stimuli by the experimenter: manual flank stimulation (FLS), clitoral stimulation (CLS), or vaginocervical stimulation (VCS). Finally, the control group was left undisturbed in the animal care facility (ACF). Sexual behaviors were measured on Tests 1 and 8. VCS received from the experimenter (VCS) or from the male during copulation (EB/Male) attenuated the magnitude of the sensitization of appetitive sexual behaviors compared with those that were not brought to the testing rooms (ACF), and the effect was most pronounced on sexual solicitations. These results suggest that VCS received during penile intromission inhibits the sensitization of sexually appetitive behaviors by repeated administration of EB. As such, repeated administration of EB may oppose those mechanisms that induce estrous termination, perhaps by sensitizing inhibitory processes within the ventromedial hypothalamus that typically prevent the display of sexual behaviors (i.e., by facilitating disinhibition).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherri Lee Jones
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada.
| | - Katuschia Germé
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - M Dean Graham
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Patrick Roy
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - James Gardner Gregory
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Stephanie Rosenbaum
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Mayte Parada
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - James G Pfaus
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
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Jones SL, Gardner Gregory J, Pfaus JG. RU486 facilitates or disrupts the sensitization of sexual behaviors by estradiol in the ovariectomized Long-Evans rat: Effect of timecourse. Horm Behav 2015. [PMID: 26210062 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
An acute injection of estradiol benzoate (EB) to the ovariectomized (OVX) rat activates low levels of lordosis, and subsequent progesterone (P) administration augments lordosis and recruits a complete pattern of sexual behavior including appetitive behaviors (e.g., hops/darts and solicitations). However, repeated injections of 5μg or 10μg EB (but not 2μg EB), administered every 4days to sexually-experienced OVX rats results in a behavioral sensitization, such that lordosis quotients (LQs) and appetitive behaviors progressively increase. We have shown that adrenal P does not play a critical role because behavioral sensitization to EB is not prevented by adrenalectomy. Here we tested whether P receptors play a role by examining the effect of chronic administration of the P receptor antagonist RU486 at a dose that reliably inhibits sexual behavior in fully primed OVX rats. Females were treated with EB (5 or 10μg), and 5mg RU486 dissolved in 0.4mL vehicle (VEH; 80% sesame oil, 15% benzyl benzoate, 5% benzyl alcohol) 48h and 5h prior to each of 7 tests, respectively, occurring at 4-day intervals in unilevel 4-hole pacing chambers. Control animals were treated with 2, 5, or 10μg EB+VEH. As expected, sensitization did not occur in females treated with 2μg EB+VEH, and those females received fewer intromissions and ejaculations than all other groups. RU486 did not prevent the sensitization of LQ, moderate and high lordosis magnitudes (LM2 and LM3) or appetitive sexual behaviors on early tests, and in fact potentiated appetitive behaviors, LQ, LM2 and LM3, consistent with its facilitative actions in females treated with EB-alone, as we and others have reported previously. However, despite the initial facilitation, blocking P receptors by chronic administration of RU486 inhibited the maintenance of behavioral sensitization to EB.
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Affiliation(s)
- S L Jones
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada.
| | - J Gardner Gregory
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - J G Pfaus
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
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Jones SL, Cordeaux E, Germé K, Pfaus JG. Behavioral defeminization by prenatal androgen treatment in rats can be overcome by sexual experience in adulthood. Horm Behav 2015; 73:104-15. [PMID: 26163151 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2015] [Revised: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to testosterone during a critical period of prenatal development disrupts the normal display of sexual behaviors in adult ovariectomized (OVX) rats treated with estradiol benzoate (EB) followed by progesterone (P). The organizational hypothesis posits that prenatally androgenized females (PNAFs) are desensitized to EB. We tested this hypothesis by first treating PNAFs with varying doses of EB (2.5, 5, 10, 20μg) followed by P (500μg), and second by subjecting females to an established EB behavioral sensitization paradigm where females are first given sexual experience with EB (10μg) and P prior to repeated sexual behavior testing with EB alone. Long-Evans females were androgenized in utero by a s.c. injection of 500μg testosterone propionate or the oil control to pregnant dams on gestational day 18. Female offspring were OVX on postnatal day 80 and tested one week later in the unilevel 4-hole pacing chamber. Genital tissue was defeminized in PNAFs, and the lordosis quotient (LQ) and partial (i.e., hops/darts) and full solicitations were significantly lower, while defensive behaviors were higher, in PNAF females, relative to non-PNAF females regardless of the acute EB priming dose. However, repeated testing with EB alone (10μg), or EB and P eliminated the differences between groups on LQ and hops/darts, indicating that the behavioral deficit can be overcome by sexual experience. These results suggest that PNAFs are not desensitized to EB, and despite disruptions in sexual differentiation of anatomical structures, the deficiency in sexual behavior in response to acute EB and P can be experientially overcome. PNAFs appear, however, to have a chronic deficit in the expression of full solicitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- S L Jones
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada.
| | - E Cordeaux
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - K Germé
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - J G Pfaus
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
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25
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Jones SL, Antonie RA, Pfaus JG. The inhibitory effects of corncob bedding on sexual behavior in the ovariectomized Long-Evans rat treated with estradiol benzoate are overcome by male cues. Horm Behav 2015; 72:39-48. [PMID: 25960082 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Revised: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying the sensitization of sexual behaviors by repeated administration of estradiol benzoate (EB) to ovariectomized (OVX) rats are not well understood. Here we tested whether two housing conditions play a role. Sexual behavior in the female rat is dependent on the activation of ERα (estrogen receptor alpha) by estradiol. Corncob (CC) bedding has been reported to have adverse effects on the reproductive behavior and physiology of rats, and to disrupt ERα signaling in mice. In addition, some rodent behaviors are stimulated by olfactory stimuli and enhanced in the presence of estradiol. Upon arrival to the facilities OVX Long-Evans rats were housed on either Sani-Chips (SC) or CC in a room that housed only females (F) or males and females (M). Females were first given four sexual training sessions with 10 μg EB + 500 μg progesterone (P; administered 48 h and 4h prior to training, respectively), followed by a 2-week hormone washout period. Next, 10 μg EB was administered s.c. every 4 days, 48 h prior to each of 8 test sessions in a unilevel 4-hole pacing chamber. On the final training day (i.e., when primed with EB+P), no inhibitory effects of corncob bedding were found, however a facilitation of the lordosis quality occurred in SC/F. Although all groups appear to have sensitized to the repeated administration of EB, CC/F animals displayed fewer high quality lordosis magnitudes and hop/darts, and received fewer mounts and intromissions overall. They also had a lower lordosis quotient (LQ) on tests 2-4 although this effect disappeared by test 5. These results suggest that although CC may inhibit some components of female sexual behavior when primed with EB alone, cues from sexually vigorous males can overcome that inhibition. Moreover, they suggest that male cues can facilitate mechanisms of estradiol sensitization. We recommend that quality control studies be conducted at individual institutions to assess any impact of corncob bedding on animal physiology and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherri Lee Jones
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada.
| | - R Alexandru Antonie
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - James G Pfaus
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
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Jones SL, Farisello L, Mayer-Heft N, Pfaus JG. Repeated administration of estradiol promotes mechanisms of sexual excitation and inhibition: Glutamate signaling in the ventromedial hypothalamus attenuates excitation. Behav Brain Res 2015; 291:118-129. [PMID: 26008158 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.05.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Repeated administration of 10 μg of estradiol benzoate (EB) every 4 days to the ovariectomized (OVX) rat induces a behavioral sensitization of sexual behaviors. Repeated copulation or the receipt of vaginocervical stimulation (VCS) attenuates the sensitization of appetitive sexual behaviors, suggesting that VCS acts in opposition to the mechanisms that induce the sensitization. It is known that VCS accelerates the onset of estrous termination (characterized by a decrease in appetitive sexual behaviors, and an increase in defensive behaviors prior to the decline in lordosis), and glutamate transmission in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), particularly via AMPA receptor signaling, is an important regulator of this effect. Thus, the current studies examined whether mechanisms of estrous termination are involved in the attenuated sensitization to EB that occurs with repeated copulation. In the first study, OVX rats received infusions of AMPA to the VMH on tests 2-4, and sexual behavior was measured on tests 1 and 5. Appetitive sexual behaviors were lower in females that received AMPA infusions in place of copulation compared to saline, suggesting that AMPA receptor activation by VCS may be playing a role in the attenuation of sensitization. In the second study, females that were not given the opportunity to copulate on tests 2-4 fell out of behavioral estrus faster than those that did, suggesting that both excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms of sexual behavior become sensitized with repeated administration of EB. Together these findings extend our hypothesis that repeated episodes of heat sensitize the activation of sexual behaviors to increase the probability of eventual fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherri Lee Jones
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada.
| | - Lucia Farisello
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Nathaniel Mayer-Heft
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - James G Pfaus
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
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Sinchak K, Dalhousay L, Sanathara N. Orphanin FQ-ORL-1 regulation of reproduction and reproductive behavior in the female. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2015; 97:187-221. [PMID: 25677773 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Orphanin FQ (OFQ/N) and its receptor, opioid receptor-like receptor-1 (ORL-1), are expressed throughout steroid-responsive limbic and hypothalamic circuits that regulate female ovarian hormone feedback and reproductive behavior circuits. The arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH) is a brain region that expresses OFQ/N and ORL-1 important for both sexual behavior and modulating estradiol feedback loops. Within the ARH, the activation of the OFQ/N-ORL-1 system facilitates sexual receptivity (lordosis) through the inhibition of β-endorphin neuronal activity. Estradiol initially activates ARH β-endorphin neurons to inhibit lordosis. Simultaneously, estradiol upregulates coexpression of OFQ/N and progesterone receptors and ORL-1 in ARH β-endorphin neurons. Ovarian hormones regulate pre- and postsynaptic coupling of ORL-1 to its G protein-coupled signaling pathways. When the steroid-primed rat is nonreceptive, estradiol acts pre- and postsynaptically to decrease the ability of the OFQ/N-ORL-1 system to inhibit ARH β-endorphin neurotransmission. Conversely, when sexually receptive, ORL-1 signaling is restored to inhibit β-endorphin neurotransmission. Although steroid signaling that facilitates lordosis converges to deactivate ARH β-endorphin neurons, estradiol-only facilitation of lordosis requires the activation of ORL-1, but estradiol+progesterone does not, indicating that multiple circuits mediate ovarian hormone signaling to deactivate ARH β-endorphin neurons. Research on the role of OFQ/N-ORL-1 in ovarian hormone feedback loops is just beginning. In the rat, OFQ/N may act to terminate gonadotropin-releasing hormone and luteinizing hormone release under positive and negative feedbacks. In the ewe, it appears to directly inhibit gonadotropin-releasing hormone release to mediate progesterone-negative feedback. As a whole, the localization and actions of OFQ/N-ORL-1 system indicate that it may mediate the actions of estradiol and progesterone to synchronize reproductive behavior and ovarian hormone feedback loops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Sinchak
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, California, USA.
| | - Lauren Dalhousay
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, California, USA
| | - Nayna Sanathara
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
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28
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Dose-dependent effects of the antiprogestin, RU486, on sexual behavior of naturally cycling Fischer rats. Behav Brain Res 2015; 282:95-102. [PMID: 25591479 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2014] [Revised: 01/01/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Regularly cycling Fischer female rats were treated with either a low (5mg/kg) or high (5mg/RAT; approximately 30mg/kg) dose of the antiprogestin, RU486, before the morning of proestrus or on the morning of proestrus. The emergence of sexual behavior after treatment with RU486 was examined in a mating test with a sexually active male rat. Lordosis behavior was remarkably resistant to the effects of RU486. Only the high dose of RU486 given the evening before proestrus, approximately 22h before mating, reduced lordosis behavior. Independent of dose or time of treatment, proceptivity was reduced and resistance to the male's attempts to mount was increased by RU486 treatment. In addition, the effect of a 5min restraint stress on sexual behavior was examined. In contrast to the relative resistance of lordosis behavior of unrestrained rats to RU486 treatment, RU486 treated rats showed a significant decline in lordosis behavior after restraint. These findings allow the suggestion that the emergence of lordosis behavior is relatively resistant to the antiprogestin while the maintenance of lordosis behavior after restraint may require participation of intracellular progesterone receptors.
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Jones SL, Pfaus JG. Sensitization of sexual behaviors in ovariectomized Long-Evans rats is induced by a subthreshold dose of estradiol benzoate and attenuated by repeated copulation. Horm Behav 2014; 66:655-62. [PMID: 25251978 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2014.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Revised: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ovariectomy (OVX) abolishes the expression sexual behaviors in the rat, but they can be fully reinstated by sequential administration of estradiol benzoate (EB) followed by progesterone (P). When administered alone, 5 or 10 μg EB (but not 2 μg) acutely induce only low levels of lordosis, whereas repeated administration potentiates lordosis and induces sexually appetitive behaviors (e.g., hops, darts, solicitations, ear wiggles). The mechanisms mediating this behavioral sensitization are poorly understood, and it is not clear whether stimulation from the male during repeated copulation plays a role. OVX Long-Evans rats were given 4 sexual training sessions with EB (10 μg) and P (500 μg) 48 and 4h prior to testing, respectively, in a unilevel 4-hole pacing chamber followed by a 2-week hormone washout. Females were then treated with 2 μg or 10 μg EB 48 h prior to copulation on Tests 1 and 8. On Tests 2-7, a group of females was treated with 10 μg EB and allowed to copulate with a male (10 μg EB/Male, n = 16), or treated with 2 μg or 10 μg EB and placed in the chamber alone (2 μg EB/Alone, n = 6; 10 μg EB/Alone, n = 18). A negative control group was treated with the oil vehicle and placed in the chamber alone (Oil/Alone, n = 6) on Tests 2-7, but treated with 2 μg EB prior to copulatory Tests 1 and 8. All groups, except Oil, displayed behavioral sensitization to EB, suggesting that repeated administration EB is both necessary and sufficient to induce sensitization. Appetitive behaviors were attenuated in those that copulated on every session. Pacing was disrupted in all groups. Together these results suggest that EB activates excitatory mechanisms to promote the expression of sexual behaviors, which are potentiated across time under certain conditions. In contrast, copulatory stimulation attenuates behavioral sensitization to EB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherri Lee Jones
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada.
| | - James G Pfaus
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
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30
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Abstract
Chronic pain is often associated with sexual dysfunction, suggesting that pain can reduce libido. We find that inflammatory pain reduces sexual motivation, measured via mounting behavior and/or proximity in a paced mating paradigm, in female but not male laboratory mice. Pain was produced by injection of inflammogens zymosan A (0.5 mg/ml) or λ-carrageenan (2%) into genital or nongenital (hind paw, tail, cheek) regions. Sexual behavior was significantly reduced in female mice experiencing pain (in all combinations); male mice similarly treated displayed unimpeded sexual motivation. Pain-induced reductions in female sexual behavior were observed in the absence of sex differences in pain-related behavior, and could be rescued by the analgesic, pregabalin, and the libido-enhancing drugs, apomorphine and melanotan-II. These findings suggest that the well known context sensitivity of the human female libido can be explained by evolutionary rather than sociocultural factors, as female mice can be similarly affected.
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Sinchak K, Dewing P, Ponce L, Gomez L, Christensen A, Berger M, Micevych P. Modulation of the arcuate nucleus-medial preoptic nucleus lordosis regulating circuit: a role for GABAB receptors. Horm Behav 2013; 64:136-43. [PMID: 23756153 PMCID: PMC3742545 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2013.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2013] [Revised: 05/29/2013] [Accepted: 06/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Estradiol rapidly activates a microcircuit in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH) that is needed for maximal female sexual receptivity. Membrane estrogen receptor-α complexes with and signals through the metabotropic glutamate receptor-1a stimulating NPY release within the ARH activating proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons. These POMC neurons project to the medial preoptic nucleus (MPN) and release β-endorphin. Estradiol treatment induces activation/internalization of MPN μ-opioid receptors (MOR) to inhibit lordosis. Estradiol membrane action modulates ARH gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor-B (GABAB) activity. We tested the hypothesis that ARH GABAB receptors mediate estradiol-induced MOR activation and facilitation of sexual receptivity. Double-label immunohistochemistry revealed expression of GABAB receptors in NPY, ERα and POMC expressing ARH neurons. Approximately 70% of POMC neurons expressed GABAB receptors. Because estradiol initially activates an inhibitory circuit and maintains activation of this circuit, the effects of blocking GABAB receptors were evaluated before estradiol benzoate (EB) treatment and after at the time of lordosis testing. Bilateral infusions of the GABAB receptor antagonist, CGP52432, into the ARH prior to EB treatment of ovariectomized rats prevented estradiol-induced activation/internalization of MPN MOR, and the rats remained unreceptive. However, in EB-treated rats, bilateral CGP52432 infusions 30 min before behavior testing attenuated MOR internalization and facilitated lordosis. These results indicated that GABAB receptors were located within the lordosis-regulating ARH microcircuit and are necessary for activation and maintenance of the estradiol inhibition of lordosis behavior. Although GABAB receptors positively influence estradiol signaling, they negatively regulate lordosis behavior since GABAB activity maintains the estradiol-induced inhibition.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus/drug effects
- Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus/physiology
- Estradiol/pharmacology
- Estrogen Receptor alpha/metabolism
- Female
- GABA-B Receptor Antagonists/pharmacology
- Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
- Immunohistochemistry
- Male
- Nerve Net/drug effects
- Nerve Net/physiology
- Neuropeptide Y/metabolism
- Ovariectomy
- Preoptic Area/drug effects
- Preoptic Area/physiology
- Pro-Opiomelanocortin/metabolism
- Rats
- Rats, Long-Evans
- Receptors, GABA-B/drug effects
- Receptors, GABA-B/physiology
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/drug effects
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/physiology
- Sexual Behavior, Animal/drug effects
- Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Sinchak
- Biol. Sci., California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA.
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