Sexual experience confers resilience to restraint stress in female rats

Arnold, Moriah R.; Thallon, Claire L.; Pitkofsky, Joshua A.; Meerts, Sarah H.

doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.12.003

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Distraction from sexual cues has been shown to have deleterious effects on both genital and subjective arousal in women. 15 Probably the fear of contagion, the stressful situation, and the change in daily life may hurt the sexual activity of the women examined. 16 This study aims to evaluate the modification of sexual function in an Italian reproductive-age women group during COVID-19 pandemic period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Love in the Time of COVID-19: Sexual Function and Quality of Life Analysis During the Social Distancing Measures in a Group of Italian Reproductive-Age Women

Schiavi

Spina

Zullo

et al. 2020

The Journal of Sexual Medicine

150

183

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Background: The beginning of 2020 was characterized by the COVID-19 pandemic. The world governments have adopted restrictive measures to reduce the spread of infection. These measures could affect the sexual function and quality of life of women living with their partner. Aim: The aim is to assess the impact of the social distancing measures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual function and quality of life of noninfected reproductive-age women, living with their sexual partner. Methods: Observational analysis on sexually active women, living with their partner, and without COVID-19 infection was performed. The population previously answered FSFI, FSDS, and SF-36 questionnaires. 4 weeks after the introduction of the restrictive measures, these women were invited to complete the same questionnaires by e-mail for an evaluation during the COVID-19 outbreak. Main Outcome Measures: The primary endpoint was the assessment of the women's sex function change during the social restriction period, by analyzing the FSFI and FSDS questionnaires. The secondary endpoint was the evaluation of the impact on the quality of life calculated by the SF-36 questionnaire. Results: 89 patients were considered. The median age was 39 (28e50) years. Mean sexual intercourses/month decreased from 6.3 ± 1.9 to 2.3 ± 1.8, mean difference: À3.9 ± 1.2. FSFI decreased significantly (29.2 ± 4.2 vs 19.2 ± 3.3, mean difference: À9.7 ± 2.6) and FSDS increased significantly (9.3 ± 5.5 vs 20.1 ± 5.2, mean difference: 10.8 ± 3.4). The SF-36 showed a significant change from 82.2 ± 10.2 to 64.2 ± 11.8 4 weeks after the introduction of the restrictive measures; mean difference: À17.8 ± 6.7. The univariable analysis identified working outside the home, university educational level, and parity !1 as predictive factors of lower FSFI. In multivariable analysis, working outside the home and combination of working outside the home þ university educational level þ parity !1 were the independent factors of a lower FSFI. Clinical Implication: The negative impact of the COVID-19 epidemic period on sexual function and quality of life in women shows how acute stress might affect the psychological state. Thus, psychological or sexual support could be useful. Strengths and Limitations: To our knowledge, this study is the first that analyzes the change in sexual activity in women during the COVID-19 outbreak period. The limitations were the low number of the analyzed participants, psychological tests were not included, and no data were collected on masturbation, self-heroism, solitary, and nonpenetrative sex. Conclusion:The COVID-19 epidemic and the restrictive social distancing measures have negatively influenced the sexual function and quality of life in not-infected reproductive-age women who live with their sexual partners.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Love in the Time of COVID-19: Sexual Function and Quality of Life Analysis During the Social Distancing Measures in a Group of Italian Reproductive-Age Women

Schiavi

Spina

Zullo

et al. 2020

The Journal of Sexual Medicine

150

183

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…When PM was tested in combination with ovarian hormones, no effect on basal anxiety was found for sexual history, while an anxiolytic effect was found for progesterone ( Arnold et al, 2019 ). Nevertheless, in the same study it was found that paced mating reduced anxiety after an acute stressor, suggesting that PM provides an increased resilience to stress ( Arnold et al, 2019 ). When females mate in traditional mating chambers, an increase in anxiety-related behaviors is observed, without behavioral changes in the PM group ( Nyuyki et al, 2011 ).…”

Section: Neuroendocrine Responses Induced By Pmmentioning

confidence: 98%

Being friendly: paced mating for the study of physiological, behavioral, and neuroplastic changes induced by sexual behavior in females

Ventura-Aquino,

Paredes

2023

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

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Paced mating in rats is an experimental condition that allows the evaluation of sexual behavior in a way that closely resembles what occurs in seminatural and natural conditions enabling the female to control the rate of the sexual interaction. In conventional non-paced mating tests, females cannot escape from male approaches, which may lead to an unrewarding overstimulation. Paced mating is an alternative laboratory procedure that improves animal welfare and has a higher ethological relevance. The use of this procedure contributed to the identification of physiological and behavioral factors that favor reproduction. Paced mating includes motivational and behavioral components differentiating quantitative and qualitative characteristics that are critical for the induction of the rewarding properties of mating. These positive consequences ensure that the behavior will be repeated, favoring the species’ survival. Sexual reward is an immediate consequence of paced mating, mediated mainly by the endogenous opioid system. Paced mating also induces long-lasting neuroplastic changes, including gene expression, synthesis of proteins, and neurogenesis in sex-relevant brain areas. The interest in paced mating is growing since the complexity of its elements and consequences at different levels in a laboratory setting resembles what occurs in natural conditions. In this review, we analyze the classic studies and recent publications demonstrating the advantages of using paced mating to evaluate different aspects of sexual behavior in females.

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“…We also propose some areas of research where findings in nonmammalian species can motivate experiments in mammals. Sexual experience not only affects physiological systems related to social behavior but also responses to stress (Arnold et al, 2019; Morris et al, 2013) and cognitive flexibility (Glasper et al, 2015) in mammals. However, the extent to which mating experiences affect these processes in nonmammalian vertebrates remains unknown.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mating experience also affects the timing and performance of sexual behaviors in female mammals (e.g., Meisel & Mullins, 2006). When female rats are allowed to regulate the pace of mating, sexually experienced females return to the male more quickly after intromission, and exhibit shorter intervals between intromissions compared to sexually naïve females (Arnold et al, 2019). Moreover, naive male hamsters allowed to copulate with sexually experienced females are more successful with intromissions than naive males that copulate with naive females, suggesting female regulation of successful copulation (Bradley et al, 2005).…”

Section: Mechanisms Underlying Mating‐dependent Changes To Motivational and Performative Aspects Of Sexual Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms, development, and comparative perspectives on experience‐dependent plasticity in social behavior

2021

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Revealing the mechanisms underlying experience‐dependent plasticity is a hallmark of behavioral neuroscience. While the study of social behavior has focused primarily on the neuroendocrine and neural control of social behaviors, the plasticity of these innate behaviors has received relatively less attention. Here, we review studies on mating‐dependent changes to social behavior and neural circuitry across mammals, birds, and reptiles. We provide an overview of species similarities and differences in the effects of mating experiences on motivational and performative aspects of sexual behaviors, on sensory processing and preferences, and on the experience‐dependent consolidation of sexual behavior. We also discuss recent insights into the neural mechanisms of and developmental influences on mating‐dependent changes and outline promising approaches to investigate evolutionary parallels and divergences in experience‐dependent plasticity.

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Sexual experience confers resilience to restraint stress in female rats

Cited by 11 publications

References 51 publications

Love in the Time of COVID-19: Sexual Function and Quality of Life Analysis During the Social Distancing Measures in a Group of Italian Reproductive-Age Women

Love in the Time of COVID-19: Sexual Function and Quality of Life Analysis During the Social Distancing Measures in a Group of Italian Reproductive-Age Women

Being friendly: paced mating for the study of physiological, behavioral, and neuroplastic changes induced by sexual behavior in females

Mechanisms, development, and comparative perspectives on experience‐dependent plasticity in social behavior

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