PMID- 3651233
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 19871110
LR  - 20190908
IS  - 0735-7044 (Print)
IS  - 0735-7044 (Linking)
VI  - 101
IP  - 4
DP  - 1987 Aug
TI  - Temporal aspects of ventromedial hypothalamic progesterone action in the 
      facilitation of estrous behavior in the female rat.
PG  - 534-45
AB  - Progesterone (P) action following estrogen priming is required normally for the 
      facilitation of estrous behavior in female rats. Although mechanisms by which P 
      exerts its influence on estrous responsiveness have not been elucidated, the 
      primary site of action of P has been shown to be the ventromedial nucleus of the 
      hypothalamus (VMN). The objective of the present series of experiments was to 
      describe the temporal parameters of P action in the VMN in the facilitation of 
      estrous behavior in estrogen-primed female rats. Subjects were female Long-Evans 
      rats stereotaxically outfitted with 23-ga. guide cannulae directed towards the 
      VMN. Crystalline P was applied directly to the brain tissue via bilateral 28-ga. 
      insert cannulae, which could be inserted and removed easily through the guide 
      cannulae. Animals were ovariectomized and estrogen primed with 5% estradiol 
      Silastic capsules. They received a counterbalanced series of two experimental 
      tests: one involving a manipulation with a P-filled implant, and another with a 
      blank implant. In the first experiment, a significant increase in estrous 
      responsiveness occurred only after 2 hr exposure of the VMN to P, whereas 4 hr 
      were required for a full display of estrous behavior, including solicitation. In 
      Experiment 2, P was lowered into the brain for either 1, 2, or 4 hr, and testing 
      took place 4 hr after the lowering of the implant. It was found that 2 hr of P 
      exposure was sufficient to facilitate full estrous responsiveness at 4 hr. In 
      Experiment 3, it was revealed that the duration of estrous responsiveness was 
      directly related to the time the P implant remained in the brain. In the fourth 
      experiment, the time course of P retention in brain tissue, revealed by 
      determination of 3H-progesterone levels in hypothalamus, agreed with the 
      behavioral findings. Progesterone levels in the region of the VMN remained high 
      while a P implant was in place, but declined rapidly after removal. A dual 
      mechanistic hypothesis for P action in the facilitation of estrous behavior is 
      presented.
FAU - Glaser, J H
AU  - Glaser JH
AD  - Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 
      08854.
FAU - Etgen, A M
AU  - Etgen AM
FAU - Barfield, R J
AU  - Barfield RJ
LA  - eng
GR  - HD-04484/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States
GR  - MH-36041/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PT  - Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
PL  - United States
TA  - Behav Neurosci
JT  - Behavioral neuroscience
JID - 8302411
RN  - 0 (Receptors, Progesterone)
RN  - 4G7DS2Q64Y (Progesterone)
RN  - 4TI98Z838E (Estradiol)
SB  - IM
MH  - Animals
MH  - Brain Mapping
MH  - Estradiol/physiology
MH  - Estrus/*physiology
MH  - Female
MH  - Progesterone/*physiology
MH  - Rats
MH  - Rats, Inbred Strains
MH  - Receptors, Progesterone/physiology
MH  - Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology
MH  - Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus/*physiology
EDAT- 1987/08/01 00:00
MHDA- 1987/08/01 00:01
CRDT- 1987/08/01 00:00
PHST- 1987/08/01 00:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 1987/08/01 00:01 [medline]
PHST- 1987/08/01 00:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1037//0735-7044.101.4.534 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Behav Neurosci. 1987 Aug;101(4):534-45. doi: 10.1037//0735-7044.101.4.534.