# SEROTONERGIC SYSTEMS & HORMONE-DEPENDENT SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

> **NIH NIH R01** · HUNTER COLLEGE · 1994 · $127,548

## Abstract

The long term objectives of experiments are to understand the mechanisms
responsible for gonadal hormone interactions in the CNS during development
and in adulthood to promote reproductive function.  Experiments are focused
specifically on contributions of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5HT) to
the regulation of female sexual behavior, lordosis.  Previous grant periods
have shown that alterations in this system are critical for the hormonal
activation of lordosis and that this system shows robust differences
between males and females in its sensitivity and response to gonadal
hormones.  Proposed experiments, utilizing primarily neurochemical
techniques, will assess the activity of 5HT and related neurochemicals
during proestrus in specific hypothalamic sites which are known to regulate
lordosis and where gonadal hormone treatments lead to alterations in 5HT
function.  In vivo dialysis techniques will be implemented to further
assess serotonergic and catecholaminergic function in hypothalamic sites
after gonadal hormone administration, during the estrous cycle and after
drug treatments.  Whether GABA containing neurons in the hypothalamus serve
as the mediators of gonadal hormone effects on serotonergic endings will be
investigated.  GABAergic drugs will be applied to the hypothalamus and
effects on lordosis measured.  Gonadal hormone effects on GABA activity and
effects of GABAergic drugs on 5HT activity will be measured.

The understanding of mechanisms for gonadal hormone regulation of brain
function may be valuable for treatment of neuroendocrine problems such as
infertility and spontaneous abortion in women, and psychosexual and
impotency problems in men.  Knowledge of serotonergic function within this
neuroendocrine context may also provide information relevant for
understanding how serotonergic systems exert effects on appetite, circadian
rhythmicity, depression and anxiety states.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2196873
- **Project number:** 5R01HD012011-16
- **Recipient organization:** HUNTER COLLEGE
- **SAM.gov UEI:** EK93EZLLBSC4
- **Principal Investigator:** VICTORIA N LUINE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $127,548
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1988-02-01 → 1995-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2196873

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2196873, SEROTONERGIC SYSTEMS & HORMONE-DEPENDENT SEXUAL BEHAVIOR (5R01HD012011-16). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2196873. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*