Ibotenic acid-induced lesion of the peripeduncular area does not impair the lordosis reflex in the cyclic female rat.

In the ovariectomized, hormone-primed rat the peripeduncular area (PPA) has been reported to play a key role in sexual receptivity by integrating the sensory and endocrine inputs necessary for the elicitation of the lordosis reflex. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of bilateral peripeduncular lesions induced by ibotenic acid on the lordosis behavior of the normal, cyclic rat. Sexually unexperienced females received a bilateral microinjection of either ibotenic acid (n = 14; lesion group) or phosphate buffer (n = 8; sham-operated group) in the PPA. Following recovery, the receptivity expressed as the lordosis quotient was controlled in the presence of a sexually active male. The results indicate that in both groups the females display a high lordosis quotient (LQ greater than 90%). Therefore, in the cyclic female rat, the manifestation of sexual receptivity does not seem to be affected following bilateral destruction of the PPA.