Olfactory Conditioned Partner Preference in the Female Rat.

Abstract

Paced copulation induces conditioned place preference in female rats. The authors examined whether associating almond-scented males with paced copulation induces conditioned partner preference. The paired group received 4 paced copulations with almond-scented males and 4 nonpaced copulations with unscented males sequentially at 4-day intervals. The unpaired group received the opposite order of association, whereas the randomly paired group received random associations. A 4th group received a single pairing. On the final test, females were placed into an open field with 2 males, 1 scented and 1 unscented. Females in the paired group solicited the scented male more frequently, and most chose the scented male for their 1st ejaculation. Thus, an odor paired with paced copulation elicits conditioned partner preference in female rats.

Amphetamine pretreatment facilitates appetitive sexual behaviors in the female rat

“…This can be observed when males bear an odor associated with paced copulation (Coria-Avila et al 2005) or toward a particular strain of male associated with paced copulation (Coria-Avila et al 2006). As in males, cues associated with sexual reward activate the immediate-early gene product Fos in several female hypothalamic and limbic structures, including the nucleus accumbens, piriform cortex, medial preoptic area, and basolateral amygdala (Coria-Avila and Pfaus 2007;Kippin et al 2003).…”

Engaging in paced mating, but neither exploratory, anti-anxiety, nor social behavior, increases 5α-reduced progestin concentrations in midbrain, hippocampus, striatum, and cortex

“…Paced mating, when compared with standard mating, in a laboratory setting is more similar to naturalistic and semi-natural mating insofar as female rodents exert much more control over the mating process by leaving the male after a contact and remaining apart for several minutes (McClintock & Adler 1978, Erskine 1985, Frye & Erskine 1990, Xiao & Becker 1997, Frye et al 1998, Zipse et al 2000, Gardener & Clark 2001, Jenkins & Becker 2001, Gonzalez-Flores et al 2004, Coria-Avila et al 2005. Paced mating is characterized by greater expression of exploratory, approach, anti-anxiety, reproductive, and aggressive behaviors when compared with standard mating and altering 3a,5a-THP levels can influence expression of these behaviors.…”

Neurobiology of social attachments

“…The attachment may last for life and attached individuals are rarely observed to mate with other partners even following permanent separation from the original one (Getz et al, 1993) which suggests rigorous selectivity (the attachment is either displayed toward the known partner or nobody). In contrast, other species like rats can show selective, but relatively brief copulatory preferences induced by Pavlovian learning Coria-Avila et al, 2005. This type of preference is considered brief because it may last for few ejaculatory series before they change partners (Kippin et al, 1998;).…”

“…monogamous vs. polygamous voles). Nevertheless, repeated exposure to social recognition paired with some types of reward can sensitize similar neural areas as observed in polygamous rats that express conditioned partner preferences after a period of learning (Coria-Avila et al, 2005Coria-Avila, 2007;Paredes-Ramos et al, 2011;Cibrian-Llanderal et al, 2012;Coria-Avila, 2012;Paredes-Ramos et al, 2012).…”

“…Some experiments with rats have shown that ejaculation is the main rewarding catalyst that induces the formation of conditioned partner preferences in males . In female rats, sexual reward is mainly achieved by pacing the frequency of sexual contacts with the male, which facilitates a conditioned partner preference (Coria-Avila et al, 2005).…”