Influence of female copulatory behavior on the induction of pseudopregnancy in the female rat

Gilman, Dennis P.; Mercer, L.F.; Hitt, John C.

doi:10.1016/0031-9384(79)90229-4

Cited by 58 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Though establishing neurochemical distinctions between the appetitive and consummatory aspects of sexual behavior in females is more difficult, there is evidence to suggest that dopaminergic activity within the nucleus accumbens contributes to the experience of reward in females during mating (see Becker, 2009). Females display a preference for the pace at which copulation takes place during mating which appears to optimize the chances of pregnancy by engaging certain neuroendocrine processes (Adler, 1974, Erskine et al ., 1989, Gilman et al ., 1979, Jenkins and Becker, 2003b). Dopaminergic release within the nucleus accumbens only appears to occur when females copulate according to their pacing preferences (Becker et al ., 2001, Jenkins and Becker, 2003a, Mermelstein and Becker, 1995).…”

Section: Oxytocin Dopamine and Social Saliencementioning

confidence: 99%

Oxytocin, motivation and the role of dopamine

Love

2014

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

283

216

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The hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin has drawn the attention of scientists for more than a century. The understanding of the function of oxytocin has expanded dramatically over the years from a simple peptide adept at inducing uterine contractions and milk ejection to a complex neuromodulator with a capacity to shape human social behavior. Decades of research have outlined oxytocin’s ability to enhance intricate social activities ranging from pair bonding, sexual activity, affiliative preferences, and parental behaviors. The precise neural mechanisms underlying oxytocin’s influence on such behaviors have just begun to be understood. Research suggests that oxytocin interacts closely with the neural pathways responsible for processing motivationally relevant stimuli. In particular, oxytocin appears to impact dopaminergic activity within the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system, which is crucial not only for reward and motivated behavior but also for the expression of affiliative behaviors. Though most of the work performed in this area has been done using animal models, several neuroimaging studies suggest similar relationships may be observed in humans. In order to introduce this topic further, this paper will review the recent evidence that oxytocin may exert some of its social-behavioral effects through its impact on motivational networks.

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Section: Oxytocin Dopamine and Social Saliencementioning

confidence: 99%

Oxytocin, motivation and the role of dopamine

Love

2014

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

283

216

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Sex that is rewarding has been shown to be associated with the triggering of a neuroendocrine reflex necessary for pregnancy (Adler, 1974; Erskine et al, 1989; Gilman, et al, 1979). One possibility is that the changes in DA observed during paced mating represent a coupling of the sexual interaction and its physiological consequences, both of which are necessary for sexual behavior to be rewarding in the female.…”

Section: Sex Differences In Sexual Motivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual differentiation of motivation: A novel mechanism?

Becker

2009

Hormones and Behavior

113

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Sex differences in motivation are apparent for the motivation to engage in sexual behavior, the motivation to take drugs of abuse, and the motivation to engage in parental behavior. In both males and females there is an increase in NAcc DA associated with motivated behaviors. Here it proposed that sex differences in the regulation of DA activity in the ascending mesolimbic projections may underlie sex differences in motivation. In particular, sex differences in the neuroendocrine regulation of this brain system plays a role in the expression of sex differences in motivated behaviors. Here it is proposed that sexual differentiation of motivation is mediated, at least in part, by a novel mechanism in which ovarian hormones secreted at puberty in the female actively feminize the DA system.

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“…Females of rodent species with multiple intromissions often prefer a slower pace of copulation than is imposed under male control (e.g. McClintock & Adler, 1978; Gilman et al. , 1979; Erskine & Baum, 1982; Fadem & Barfield, 1982; Webster et al.…”

Section: Sperm Competition and Pace Of Copulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sperm competition and diversity in rodent copulatory behaviour

Stockley

Preston

2004

Journal of Evolutionary Biology

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The copulatory behaviour of male mammals is characterized by striking diversity in patterns of copulatory stimulation and ejaculation frequency. We conducted comparative analyses of rodents to investigate the potential influence of sperm competition in the evolution of copulatory behaviour. We found that increasing sperm competition is associated with faster rates of stimulation and earlier ejaculation among species in which males perform multiple intromissions prior to ejaculation, but with no overall change in the number of intromissions per ejaculation. Increasing sperm competition is also associated with a higher frequency of repeated ejaculations with the same female, and with shorter refractory periods between repeated copulations. Increasing sperm competition level thus appears to select for male ability to ejaculate more rapidly and more frequently with each female mated. As prolonged copulations are known to reduce female remating rates, these findings indicate that males may experience opposing selection pressures on copulatory behaviour with respect to offensive and defensive aspects of sperm competition. We conclude that sperm competition is likely to be an important selection pressure explaining diversity in mammalian copulatory behaviour.

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Influence of female copulatory behavior on the induction of pseudopregnancy in the female rat

Cited by 58 publications

References 17 publications

Oxytocin, motivation and the role of dopamine

Oxytocin, motivation and the role of dopamine

Sexual differentiation of motivation: A novel mechanism?

Sperm competition and diversity in rodent copulatory behaviour

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