Scopolamine inhibition of lordosis in naturally cycling female rats

Cheryl S. Menard, C S Menard, Gary P. Dohanich, G P Dohanich
Physiology & behavior · 1989 · vol. 45(4) , pp. 819–823 · doi:10.1016/0031-9384(89)90301-6 · PMID:2780854 · W2004914721
Lab / animal OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 2 in-corpus citations
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This study found that intraventricular and systemic scopolamine significantly inhibit lordosis behavior during natural estrus in intact female rats, indicating central cholinergic muscarinic systems regulate this sexual response.

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Abstract

Cholinergic antagonists, such as scopolamine, atropine, and hemicholinium-3, have been found previously to inhibit lordosis in ovariectomized rats primed with estrogen and progesterone. The present study further examined this effect using intact cycling female rats. Cycling was determined by daily monitoring of sexual behavior and vaginal cytology. In the first experiment, intraventricular administration of the muscarinic receptor blocker, scopolamine, was found to significantly inhibit lordosis behavior during natural estrus (10 or 20 micrograms bilaterally). In the second experiment, systemic administration of scopolamine was also found to significantly inhibit lordosis behavior during natural estrus (4 mg/kg, IP). Administration of the cholinergic antagonist did not significantly interrupt cyclicity patterns. These results indicate that central cholinergic muscarinic systems contribute to the regulation of lordosis during natural behavioral estrus in intact female rats.

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MeSH descriptors

Scopolamine Sexual Behavior, Animal Animals Estrus Estrus Female Injections, Intraperitoneal Posture Rats Scopolamine Scopolamine Sexual Behavior, Animal

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