Pleim E T, Barfield R J
Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903.
Horm Behav. 1988 Jun;22(2):150-9. doi: 10.1016/0018-506x(88)90061-x.
The CNS sites of action for progesterone facilitation of female sexual behavior are disputed. Among the areas most often cited are the ventromedial hypothalamus and the ventral midbrain. There is also a controversy about whether estradiol may substitute for progesterone for the facilitation of receptive behavior when given systemically or intracranially. We tested VMH and ventral midbrain applications of estradiol versus progesterone for the facilitation of female sexual behavior in estrogen-primed, ovariectomized female rats. Subjects were implanted with bilateral guide tubes aimed at ventral hypothalamic or midbrain sites. Estrogen-primed rats received either 28-gauge insert cannulae filled at the lumen with pure progesterone, estradiol, or cholesterol, or empty tubes, and were tested for receptivity with intact, experienced stud males just before, and 1 and 4 hr after, intracranial hormone administration. Significant estrous responsiveness was seen only in the 4-hr test after progesterone was implanted in the VMN in the first intracranial cannula test. We conclude, in contrast to some previous reports, that administration of progesterone to the VMN is more effective in the facilitation of female sexual behavior than when it is implanted in the ventral midbrain, and that administration of estradiol to either site is ineffective.
孕酮促进雌性性行为的中枢神经系统作用位点存在争议。最常被提及的区域包括腹内侧下丘脑和腹侧中脑。当全身给药或颅内给药时，雌二醇是否可以替代孕酮来促进接受行为也存在争议。我们测试了在雌激素预处理、卵巢切除的雌性大鼠中，向腹内侧下丘脑和腹侧中脑应用雌二醇与孕酮对促进雌性性行为的影响。将双侧引导管植入受试动物，使其对准腹侧下丘脑或中脑部位。经雌激素预处理的大鼠接受双侧28号插入式套管，管腔内填充纯孕酮、雌二醇或胆固醇，或为空管，在颅内激素给药前、给药后1小时和4小时，与经验丰富的完整雄鼠进行接受性测试。在首次颅内套管测试中，仅在将孕酮植入腹内侧核后的4小时测试中观察到显著的发情反应。与一些先前的报道相反，我们得出结论，向腹内侧核给药孕酮比将其植入腹侧中脑更有效地促进雌性性行为，而向这两个部位给药雌二醇均无效。
