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， 用于启动和维持妊娠或假性妊娠（PSP）， 雌鼠 在这个物种中， 在交配过程中启动催乳素（PRL）每天两次激增， 延长妊娠所必需的卵巢黄体活性。 的 发情期大鼠在交配过程中表现出的行为模式是 脊柱前凸姿势，恳求行为模式， 表明性准备，以及模式，或节奏， 与雄性的接触，调节交配的顺序和时间 收到的刺激。 起搏行为已被观察到， 自然条件下，并表现出自发的发情期女性 在实验室中，当它们被放入实验测试室时， 这使得她们能够控制与性活跃男性的接触 大鼠 这种间歇性的接近和退出的表现 与男性的接触完全依赖于其表达的能力， 来区分交配的强度 在整个交配序列中收到的坐骑;雌性表现出选择性 对挂载的响应-不带导入、导入和 射精 由此产生的宫颈阴道刺激模式 收到显着增加PSP或怀孕以上的发生率 在试验条件下交配的雌性动物中观察到的水平， 能够控制性交刺激的速度 此外，节奏交配刺激 LH和5 α-还原的血浆浓度迅速增加， 雄激素，3 α雄甾烷，并有助于交配诱导 交配后1小时内发生的PRL释放。 因此，在本发明中， 雌性在起搏交配期间接受的生殖器感觉刺激 引发了几种神经内分泌反应， 诱发PSP。 尽管有令人信服的证据表明，节奏交配具有显着的 对大鼠生殖成功的影响，知之甚少 关于生殖器感觉刺激被转换成 神经内分泌反应 本申请中提出的实验将 检查特定的生殖器感觉刺激期间收到的节奏交配 这对PSP/妊娠的启动很重要。 他们将检查 哪些大脑区域在交配时接受神经输入， 确定这些区域对诱发PSP是否重要。 在 此外，研究将检查3 α-雄甾烷酮对 起搏行为的显示。 最后，实验将检验 节奏交配是否会影响交配后精子在体内的运输， 雌性的生殖道和产生后代的数量。

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 or pseudopregnancy (PSP) in the female rat. In this species, genitosensory stimulation received during mating initiates twice-daily surges of prolactin (PRL) which prolong ovarian corpora luteal activity necessary for gestation. The behavioral patterns exhibited by the estrous rat during mating are the lordosis posture, solicitational behavior patterns which serve to indicate sexual readiness, as well as the patterning, or pacing, of contact with males which regulates the sequence and timing of copulatory stimulation received. Pacing behavior has been observed under naturalistic conditions and is exhibited spontaneously by estrous females in the laboratory when they are placed into experimental test chambers which allow them to control their contacts with sexually active male rats. This intermittent display of approach toward and withdrawal from contact with males relies exclusively for its expression on the ability of the female to discriminate between the intensity of the copulatory mounts received throughout the mating sequence; females display selective responses to mounts - without intromission, intromission, and ejaculation. The resulting pattern of cervical-vaginal stimulation received significantly increases 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. Furthermore, paced mating stimulates rapid increases in plasma concentrations of LH and the 5alpha-reduced androgen, 3alphaandrostanediol, and contributes to the mating-induced release of PRL which occurs within 1 hr after mating. Thus, genitosensory stimulation received by the female during paced mating initiates several neuroendocrine responses which may directly contribute to induction of PSP. Despite the compelling evidence that paced mating has significant consequences for reproductive success in the rat, very little is known about the mechanisms whereby genitosensory stimulation is transduced into neuroendocrine responses. Experiments proposed in this application will examine the particular genitosensory stimuli received during paced mating which are important for initiation of PSP/pregnancy. They will examine which brain areas receive neural input around the time of mating and determine whether these areas are important for induction of PSP. In addition, studies will examine the effects of 3alpha-androstanediol on the display of pacing behavior. Finally, experiments will examine whether paced mating influences post-mating transport of sperm within the female's reproductive tract and the numbers of offspring produced.