PSYCHOENDOCRINE CONTROL OF ESTROUS BEHAVIOR

与行为事件相关的刺激可能会诱发生理性 为个人和社会提供适应功能的反应 物种研究这些行为/内分泌的主要模型之一 相互关系一直是研究的机制， 生殖行为会引起必要的神经和内分泌变化， 用于启动和维持雌性大鼠的妊娠。在这 物种，交配期间表现出的行为模式是脊柱前凸 姿势和几种恳求行为模式， 表明性的准备以及唤起男性交配。之一 更引人注目的，但研究最少的，招揽行为的方面是 发情期雌性动物对发情时间的调节或调节， 男性阴茎插入，自发发生的行为 在实验室条件下，将雌性动物置于实验室中， 测试室，使他们能够控制他们的性接触， 活跃的雄性老鼠宫颈阴道刺激的频率和时间 在交配过程中从雄性接受的激素对卵巢功能的停止至关重要 周期性伴随妊娠和假性妊娠（PSP）; 特别是，女性性交接触的节奏显著增加， PSP或妊娠的发生率高于在以下条件下交配的雌性中观察到的水平： 测试条件下，他们不能起搏性交刺激。 因此，步调请求提供了一种行为机制， 女性确保她在怀孕时得到适当的刺激 入会仪式 在本申请中提出的实验将检查生理 机制负责显示的节奏征求和作用 卵巢类固醇、雌二醇和黄体酮在起搏中的作用 女性性交接触，催乳素分泌模式的变化 (PRL)与非起搏性交刺激相反， 参与起搏行为显示的神经部位。

Stimuli associated with behavioral events may induce physiological responses which serve adaptive functions for both the individual and the species. One of the primary models for study of these behavior/endocrine interrelationships has been the study of the mechanisms whereby reproductive behavior induces the neural and endocrine changes necessary for initiation and maintenance of pregnancy in the female rat. In this species, the behavioral patterns exhibited during mating are the lordosis posture and several solicitational behavior patterns which serve to indicate sexual readiness as well as to arouse the male to mate. One of the more compelling, yet least studied, aspects of solicitational behavior is the regulation, or pacing, by the estrous female of the timing of the penile intromissions received from males, behaviors occurring spontaneously under laboratory conditions in which females are placed into experimental test chambers which allow them to control their contacts with sexually active male rats. The frequency and timing of cervical-vaginal stimulation received from males during mating are critical for the cessation of ovarian cyclicity which accompanies pregnancy and pseudopregnancy (PSP); in particular, pacing of coital contacts by the female significantly increase the incidence of PSP or pregnancy above levels seen in females mated under test conditions in which they are not able to pace coital stimulation. Therefore, paced solicitation provides a behavioral mechanism whereby the female insures that she receives appropriate stimulation for pregnancy initiation. Experiments proposed in this application will examine the physiological mechanisms responsible for the display of paced solicitation and the role of the ovarian steroids, estradiol and progesterone, in the pacing of coital contacts by females, changes in the secretory pattern of prolactin (PRL) following paced as opposed to non-paced coital stimulation, and the neural sites involved in the display of pacing behavior.