title: The desensitization effect of progesterone on female rat sexual behavior is not due to interference with estrogen priming.
abstract: In order to determine if progesterone interferes with estradiol's priming action on progesterone-facilitated sexual behavior, we tested the responsiveness of progesterone-desensitized female rats to the serotonin receptor antagonist, methysergide, and the neuropeptide, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. Threshold doses of both compounds were established. Progesterone treatment, which caused a decrease in the lordosis rating in response to a moderate dose of progesterone did not inhibit responsiveness to threshold doses of methysergide or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. The results of this study support the notion that progesterone does not interfere with estradiol's priming action on progesterone-facilitated sexual receptivity. Furthermore, they suggest that progesterone's desensitization effect is specific to progesterone-facilitated lordosis.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008784:Methysergide / Q000494:pharmacology; D011187:Posture; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D013618:Tachyphylaxis
chemical_list: D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011374:Progesterone; D008784:Methysergide