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 用于启动和维持雌性大鼠的妊娠。在这 物种在交配过程中表现出的行为模式是前凸 姿势和几种感恩行为模式，它们有助于 示意性准备以及唤醒雄性交配。其中一个 更令人信服但研究最少的方面是： 调步，调步发情的雌性对时间的调节或调步 男性的阴茎插入，自发发生的行为 在实验室条件下，将雌性放入实验 允许他们控制与性接触的测试室 活跃的雄性大鼠。宫颈-阴道刺激的频率和时机 在交配过程中从雄性那里得到的是停止卵巢的关键 伴随妊娠和假孕(PSP)的周期性； 特别是，女性性交接触的步调显著增加 PSP或妊娠水平以上的女性在以下交配中的发生率 测试条件，在这种情况下，他们不能进行性交刺激。 因此，有节奏的恳求提供了一种行为机制， 女性确保自己在怀孕期间得到适当的刺激 入会仪式。 本申请中提出的实验将检查生理上的 负责展示有节奏的征集和作用的机制 卵巢类固醇，雌二醇和孕酮，在起搏时 女性性交与催乳素分泌模式的变化 (PRL)在有起搏的性交刺激之后，而不是在非起搏的性交刺激之后，并且 神经部位参与了起搏行为的显示。

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.