Prepubertal genital grooming and penile erections in relation to sexual behavior of rats

Abstract

This study was designed to analyze if the electroencephalographic (EEG) activity of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) was modified throughout various reproductive stages of female rats exposed to pup-associated or non-associated odors. Simultaneous EEG recordings were obtained from right and left mPFC and VTA in adult female rats during the smelling of nest bedding and female bedding under three reproductive states: proestrus-estrus (P-E), diestrus (D) and lactation (L). Absolute (AP) and relative (RP) powers of three EEG band frequencies, and interhemispheric correlation (r) of EEG activity were calculated and compared among conditions. During the awake-quiet condition, RP of the 12-21 Hz band was significantly higher in the right and left mPFC as well as in the right VTA of lactating rats as compared to P-E rats. During the smelling of nest bedding, the RP of the 8-11 Hz in the mPFC became increased while that of the 6-7 and 12-21 Hz decreased in the three reproductive stages. In the VTA, this phenomenon was mainly observed in lactating rats. Only the RP of the lower frequencies (6-7 and 8-11 Hz bands) was higher in the right mPFC and in the left and right VTA, respectively, of the lactating rats with respect to P-E rats, while that of the 12-21 Hz band was lower in lactating as compared to P-E rats. Moreover, the interprefrontal correlation of the lower-frequency bands was higher in relation to smelling of nest bedding in diestrus and lactating rats, whereas during the smelling of female bedding the correlation of the 6-7 Hz band was increased only in the diestrus rats as compared to P-E rats. These data indicate that EEG activity recording is a sensitive tool to study the functionality of the mPFC and VTA during different reproductive states and suggest the possible participation of these structures in the processing of olfactory stimuli associated to pups to modulate the motivational and performance processes, crucial for the expression of maternal behavior. " 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.",,,,,,"10.1016/j.physbeh.2004.09.013",,,"http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12104/43806","http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-11844304338&partnerID=40&md5=130e89d185c6ed79ac2f033c1423aacf

http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&CSC=Y&NEWS=N&PAGE=fulltext&D=med5&AN=15639160",,,,,,"5",,"Physiology and Behavior",,"749

758",,"83",,"Scopus

MEDLINE

WOS",,,,"Index Medicus;Animals;Dopamine/ph [Physiology];Electroencephalography;Electrophysiology;Estrous Cycle/ph [Physiology];Female;Functional Laterality/ph [Physiology];Lactation/ph [Physiology];Prefrontal Cortex/ph [Physiology];Principal Component Analysis;Rats;Reproduction/ph [Physiology];Sexual Maturation/ph [Physiology];Smell/ph [Physiology];Tegmentum Mesencephali/ph [Physiology]",,"Brain electrical activity; EEG; Olfactory stimulation; Prefrontal cortex; Spectral analysis; Ventral tegmental area",,,,,,"Prefrontal and tegmental electrical activity during olfactory stimulation in virgin and lactating rats",,"Article" "45598","123456789/35008",,"Karina Juárez, R., División de Genética, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, CMNO-IMSS, Guadalajara, Mexico, Doctorado en Genética Humana, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; Ricardo Lara, A., División de Genética, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, CMNO-IMSS, Guadalajara, Mexico, Doctorado en Genética Humana, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; José García, O., División de Genética, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, CMNO-IMSS, Guadalajara, Mexico, Doctorado en Genética Humana, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico",,"Karina Juarez, R.

Ricardo Lara, A.

Jose García, O.",,"2012",,"Premature ovarian insufficiency is characterized by primary or secondary amenorrhea, hypoestrogenism and elevated levels of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), which affects 1 in 100 women under 40 years. Its etiology is multifactorial, however, only in some patients can be set a particular cause, including: metabolic, environmental, autoimmune, genetic and iatrogenic, being idiopathic more than 90% of the cases. Some of the genetic causes that can be seen are the X chromosome alterations and mutations in candidate genes that regulate follicular development. Treatment should be multidisciplinary, focusing particularly on hormone replacement therapy and prevention of complications of early menopause. Genetic counseling is important for to make timely decisions, particularly in those patients who still have a chance to get a pregnancy.",,,,,,,,,"http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12104/43819","http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84864222570&partnerID=40&md5=a82c6db057941f2e7a70ee9f1efe0bad",,,,,,"2",,"Revista Chilena de Obstetricia y Ginecologia",,"148

153",,"77",,"Scopus",,,,,,"Amenorrhea; Candidate genes; Premature ovarian insufficiency",,,,,,"Premature ovarian insufficiency: A review [Insuficiencia ovárica prematura: una revisión]",,"Article" "45609","123456789/35008",,"Hernández-González, M., Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Rayo 2611, Col. Jardines del Bosque, C.P. 44520 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico",,"Hernandez-Gonzalez, M.",,"2000",,"The development of genital grooming (GG) and spontaneous penile erections (SPE) was evaluated in socially housed male rats from 25 to 47 days of age, and their sexual behavior was tested from 42 to 74 days of age. GG was the first behavior that appeared (27 days of age) prior to SPE (44 days of age). The values of frequency and duration of GG and SPE showed a gradual increase as puberty was reached. The mean age in which copulatory responses were first observed were: 54.5 days of age for mounts, 55 days of age for intromission and 59 days of age for ejaculation. The proportion of GG bouts that were followed by SPE showed a gradual increase throughout the recording days. A high correlation was found between the early onset and higher frequency of GG and an early onset of sexual behavior. Similarly, higher frequency and/or longer duration of SPE were correlated with an early onset and a better performance of sexual behavior. These results are consistent with previous studies, which suggest an important role of GG on the manifestation of sexual behavior; moreover, considering the high correlation between the occurrence of SPE and sexual behavior, it is possible that, as GG, SPE play an important role in the readiness of adult male rats for reproduction. " 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.