Intracerebral implantation of progesterone: re-examination of the brain sites responsible for facilitation of sexual receptivity in estrogen-primed ovariectomized rats
Luttge, W.G.; Hughes, J.R.
Physiology and Behavior 17(5): 771-775
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-9384 PMID: 1026984 Document Number: 431125
Ovariectomized female rats were tested for sexual receptivity following s.c. priming with threshold doses of estradiol benzoate and intracerebral 27 ga implants of either progesterone or cholesterol. All females were repeatedly tested under both intracerebral hormone implant conditions. Cholesterol implants failed to activate receptivity, while progesterone implants in the interpeduncular-ventral tegmental area produced near maximal levels of receptivity within 30 min after implantation. Progesterone implants in the medial hypothalamus, anterior hypothalamus, preoptic area, pons, mesencephalic reticular formation and lateral mesencephalon failed to activate sexual receptivity.