PSYCHOENDOCRINE CONTROL OF ESTROUS BEHAVIOR

与行为事件相关的刺激可能会导致生理性 为个体和个人提供适应功能的响应 物种。研究这些行为/内分泌的主要模型之一 相互关系一直是对以下机制的研究 生殖行为引起必要的神经和内分泌变化 开始和维持妊娠或假孕(PSP) 雌鼠。在这个物种中，生殖器感觉刺激 在交配过程中，开始每天两次催乳素(PRL)的激增， 延长妊娠所需的卵巢黄体活动。这个 发情大鼠在交配过程中表现出的行为模式是 前凸姿势，这是一种有助于 表示性欲准备，以及图案或步调 与雄性的接触，调节交配的顺序和时机 已收到刺激。已观察到起搏行为在 自然主义的条件，发情的雌性自发地表现出来 在实验室中，当它们被放入实验测试室时 这使他们能够控制与性行为活跃的男性的接触 老鼠。这种间歇性的接近和撤退的展示 与男性的接触完全依赖于它对能力的表达 以区别雌性交配的强度 在整个交配序列中接收到的坐骑；雌性显示选择性 对坐骑的反应--不插入、插入和 射精。由此产生的宫颈-阴道刺激模式 接受PSP或以上妊娠的发生率显著增加 在测试条件下交配的雌性动物体内的水平 能够控制性交刺激的节奏。此外，有节奏的交配会刺激 血浆中促黄体生成素和5α降低的浓度迅速升高 雄激素，3α雄烷二醇，并有助于交配诱导 在交配后1小时内释放催乳素。因此， 雌性在步调交配过程中接受的生殖感觉刺激 启动几种神经内分泌反应，这些反应可能直接导致 与PSP的诱导有关。 尽管有令人信服的证据表明，有节奏的交配对 对老鼠繁殖成功的影响，我们知之甚少 关于生殖器感觉刺激被传导到 神经内分泌反应。本申请中提出的实验将 检查在有节奏的交配过程中接收到的特定生殖器感觉刺激 它们对PSP/妊娠的启动是很重要的。他们将检查 在交配和交配期间，大脑的哪些区域接受神经输入 确定这些区域对PSP的诱导是否重要。在……里面 此外，研究将检查3α-雄烷二醇对 起搏行为的显示。最后，实验将检验 有节奏的交配是否影响交配后精子在 雌性的生殖道和所产后代的数量。

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.