Lisciotto C A, DeBold J F
Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155.
Brain Res Bull. 1991 Jun;26(6):877-83. doi: 10.1016/0361-9230(91)90252-f.
The ventral mesencephalon appears to be one of the sites of progesterone action in the control of sexual receptivity in female hamsters. The behavioral response to systemic progesterone was assessed in female hamsters following electrolytic lesions of portions of the ventral mesencephalon. Adult female hamsters were ovariectomized and pretested for sexual receptivity, then were given bilateral lesions aimed at the region of the ventral mesencephalon where progesterone implants have been shown to facilitate receptivity. Lesions were produced by stereotaxically lowering an electrode and applying anodal direct current of 1-2 mA for 5-20 seconds. One week later the hamsters were injected with estrogen followed 44 h later by progesterone. They were then tested for sexual receptivity. After this test, their brains were removed and histologically prepared. Lesion location was determined and lesion size was quantified with a digitizing pad. Lesions which were centered in and destroyed much of the ventral tegmental area produced the greatest lordosis impairments. Mesencephalic lesions which did not bilaterally damage the ventral tegmental area had little effect. These results support the hypothesis that the ventral mesencephalon, particularly the ventral tegmental area, is an important site for the facilitative action of progesterone on sexual receptivity in estrogen-primed female hamsters.
腹侧中脑似乎是孕酮作用于雌性仓鼠性接受能力控制的部位之一。在对腹侧中脑部分进行电解损伤后，评估雌性仓鼠对全身孕酮的行为反应。成年雌性仓鼠接受卵巢切除术并进行性接受能力的预测试，然后对腹侧中脑区域进行双侧损伤，该区域已被证明孕酮植入可促进接受能力。通过立体定位降低电极并施加1-2 mA的阳极直流电5-20秒来产生损伤。一周后，给仓鼠注射雌激素，44小时后注射孕酮。然后测试它们的性接受能力。在该测试之后，取出它们的大脑并进行组织学处理。确定损伤位置并用数字化仪量化损伤大小。以腹侧被盖区为中心并破坏大部分腹侧被盖区的损伤产生了最大的脊柱前凸损伤。未双侧损伤腹侧被盖区的中脑损伤影响很小。这些结果支持以下假设：腹侧中脑，特别是腹侧被盖区，是孕酮对雌激素预处理的雌性仓鼠性接受能力促进作用的重要部位。
