PSYCHOENDOCRINE CONTROL OF ESTROUS BEHAVIOR

在自然和实验室条件下，处于发情期的雌性大鼠表现出 与男性的自发和可预测的性接触模式， 似乎调节或步调交配的时间特征 收到的刺激。 雌性交配节奏的两个后果 刺激是发情期长度的缩写， 5 α还原的雄激素的血清浓度的急性增加， 3a-雄甾烷。 这些数据表明，这种雄激素，从 卵巢对时间上合适的性交刺激作出反应， 在发情期结束时性反应降低。 实验 在本申请中提出的术语“特征”将限定本发明的特征。 行为刺激导致动情期缩短， 3a-雄甾烷释放，确定是否增加循环 3a-雄甾烷二醇在动情周期缩短中发挥生理作用， 确定3a-雄甾烷酮水平的增加是否是 垂体激素释放 这些研究将探讨相互之间的关系， 雌性大鼠的内分泌系统和性反应， 关系可能有助于调节繁殖过程， 生存 此外，这些研究将阐明是否5a-还原 雄激素，已知对性感受性有强烈的抑制作用， 卵巢切除的卵巢致敏大鼠，在生理条件下发挥作用， 调节性行为显示的条件 雌性大鼠

Under both natural and laboratory conditions, female rats in estrus exhibit spontaneous and predictable patterns of sexual contacts with males which appear to regulate or pace the temporal characteristics of copulatory stimuli received. Two consequences of the females' pacing of copulatory stimulation are an abbreviation of the length of the period of estrus and acute increases in serum concentrations of the 5a-reduced androgen, 3a-androstanediol. These data suggest that this androgen, released from the ovary in response to temporally-appropriate coital stimuli, contributes to decreasing sexual responsiveness at the end of estrus. The experiments proposed in this application will define the characteristics of the behavioral stimuli which contribute to estrus abbreviation and 3a-androstanediol release, determine whether increases in circulating 3a-androstanediol play a physiological role in estrus abbreviation, and determine whether increased levels of 3a-androstanediol are a result of pituitary hormone release. These studies will examine the reciprocal relationships between the endocrine system and sexual responsiveness in the female rat -- which relationships may serve to regulate reproductive processes insuring species survival. In addition, these studies will elucidate whether 5a-reduced androgens, known to have strong inhibitory effects on sexual receptivity in ovariectomized hormone-primed rats, play a role under physiological conditions in modulating the display of sexual behavior in the intact female rat.