Role of the vomeronasal organ in the male-induced enhancement of sexual receptivity in female rats.
The role of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) in the male-induced enhancement of sexual receptivity in ovariectomized estrogen-primed rats was investigated. Removal of the VNO significantly reduced the enhancement of sexual receptivity following mating, as compared with the sham-operated controls. The sham-operated females exhibited a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) following mating; however, LH release induced by pairing with males was less manifested in the VNO-removed females. This suggests that in female rats, VNO removal impairs the male-induced release of LH-releasing hormone (LHRH). Since LHRH enhances sexual receptivity in ovariectomized estrogen-primed rats, the present results suggest that the increase in sexual receptivity in female rats following mating probably results from a VNO-mediated LHRH release.
Rajendren
G
G
Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
Dudley
C A
CA
Moss
R L
RL
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*
D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone