Estradiol and progesterone in the control of sexual receptivity in female rats |
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Authors: | P. SÖ DERSTEN,P. ENEROTH |
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Affiliation: | Karolinska Institute, Sweden |
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Abstract: | Estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) are both required for induction of sexual behavior in female rats under physiological conditions. Administration of E2 in brief pulses can induce the behavior in ovariectomized rats. P does not normally exert inhibitory or anti-estrogenic effects on the behavior. The decline of sexual receptivity in ovariectomized E2+P-treated rats is dependent upon the amount of E2 and P given but independent on the continued presence of either hormone. Ovariectomized animals treated with a constant amount of E2 show a behavioral rhythm which is disrupted by hypothalamic lesions and it is suggested that peptidergic neurons in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus rhythmically inhibit the behavior of ovariectomized E2-treated rats. |
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