# PSYCHOENDOCRINE CONTROL OF ESTROUS BEHAVIOR

> **NIH NIH R01** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS · 1994 · $111,990

## Abstract

Stimuli associated with behavioral events may induce physiological
responses which serve adaptive functions for both the individual and the
species.  One of the primary models for study of these behavior/endocrine
interrelationships has been the study of the mechanisms whereby
reproductive behavior induces the neural and endocrine changes necessary
for initiation and maintenance of pregnancy or pseudopregnancy (PSP) in
the female rat.  In this species, genitosensory stimulation received
during mating initiates twice-daily surges of prolactin (PRL) which
prolong ovarian corpora luteal activity necessary for gestation.  The
behavioral patterns exhibited by the estrous rat during mating are the
lordosis posture, solicitational behavior patterns which serve to
indicate sexual readiness, as well as the patterning, or pacing, of
contact with males which regulates the sequence and timing of copulatory
stimulation received.  Pacing behavior has been observed under
naturalistic conditions and is exhibited spontaneously by estrous females
in the laboratory when they are placed into experimental test chambers
which allow them to control their contacts with sexually active male
rats.  This intermittent display of approach toward and withdrawal from
contact with males relies exclusively for its expression on the ability
of the female to discriminate between the intensity of the copulatory
mounts received throughout the mating sequence; females display selective
responses to mounts - without intromission, intromission, and
ejaculation.  The resulting pattern of cervical-vaginal stimulation
received significantly increases the incidence of PSP or pregnancy above
levels seen in females mated under test conditions in which they are not
able to pace coital stimulation.  Furthermore, paced mating stimulates
rapid increases in plasma concentrations of LH and the 5alpha-reduced
androgen, 3alphaandrostanediol, and contributes to the mating-induced
release of PRL which occurs within 1 hr after mating.  Thus,
genitosensory stimulation received by the female during paced mating
initiates several neuroendocrine responses which may directly contribute
to induction of PSP.

Despite the compelling evidence that paced mating has significant
consequences for reproductive success in the rat, very little is known
about the mechanisms whereby genitosensory stimulation is transduced into
neuroendocrine responses.  Experiments proposed in this application will
examine the particular genitosensory stimuli received during paced mating
which are important for initiation of PSP/pregnancy.  They will examine
which brain areas receive neural input around the time of mating and
determine whether these areas are important for induction of PSP.  In
addition, studies will examine the effects of 3alpha-androstanediol on
the display of pacing behavior.  Finally, experiments will examine
whether paced mating influences post-mating transport of sperm within the
female's reproductive tract and th...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2198334
- **Project number:** 5R01HD021802-08
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS
- **SAM.gov UEI:** FBYMGMHW4X95
- **Principal Investigator:** MARY S ERSKINE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $111,990
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-08-01 → 1997-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2198334

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2198334, PSYCHOENDOCRINE CONTROL OF ESTROUS BEHAVIOR (5R01HD021802-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2198334. Licensed CC0.

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