# BRAIN MECHANISMS OF REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

> **NIH NIH R01** · ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY · 1994 · $255,689

## Abstract

Lordosis, as part of female rat reproduction, provides a unique opportunity
to relate molecular changes to behavior, because of the great amount of
previous work on its hormonal mechanisms, sensory and motor components, and
circuitry.  Several neurochemical products have been implicated in lordosis
control.  We have selected strong candidates for relating molecular
synthesis of specific transmitters and peptides to lordosis.  We suspect
that different gene expression systems may play different roles in the
neuro-endocrine control of reproduction, and need to explore how each is
related to lordosis.  Thus, we will use in situ hybridization and single
unit activity to compare molecular and electrophysiological results to
lordosis measures.  In turn, to tie these cellular results to behavior,
where possible, we will manipulate molecular events to cause lordosis
changes.  Experiment set I.  deals with 2 transmitter systems involved in
lordosis in the rat hypothalamus:  alpha-1 adrenergic and muscarinic.  For
each we will study the ability of E and P to alter messenger RNA levels for
the appropriate receptor, and will use in vitro recordings of single unit
activity to study E and P effects on hypothalamic neuronal responses to the
appropriate agonists.  Results with these two cellular approaches will be
related to the effects of alpha-1 adrenergic agonists and muscarinic
agonists on lordosis.  Where possible, situational constraints on the
actions of a given system will be hypothesized and tested.  Experiment set
II. deals with 3 neuropeptide systems involved in lordosis.  LHRH gene
expression will be studied under E and P conditions designed to allow tight
correlations with lordosis, and its electrophysiological effects as a
neuromodulator will be analyzed.  Enkephalin gene expression will be
correlated with lordosis performance under selected hormonal conditions.
Oxytocin gene expression will be studied as a function of situational
constraints which may reveal the nature of oxytocin's contributions to
lordosis.  Throughout, identification of the neuronal groups studied will
be confirmed using combinations of techniques:  we will follow
electrophysiological and behavioral measurements with histochemical
examination of the same tissue, including in situ hybridization and
immunocytochemistry.  Thus, we will be better able to see how molecular
events in particular neuronal groups contribute to the occurrence of
lordosis.  Overall, the design of this project and the technical history of
this lab allow detailed approaches to reductionistic brain mechanisms while
maintaining a strict behavioral focus.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2194909
- **Project number:** 5R01HD005751-22
- **Recipient organization:** ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LHGDNJMZ64Y1
- **Principal Investigator:** Donald W. Pfaff
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $255,689
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1978-05-01 → 1996-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2194909

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2194909, BRAIN MECHANISMS OF REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR (5R01HD005751-22). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2194909. Licensed CC0.

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