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Sexual Behaviour (sexual + behaviour)
Kinds of Sexual Behaviour Selected AbstractsDouble Oestrogen Receptor , and , Knockout Mice Reveal Differences in Neural Oestrogen-Mediated Progestin Receptor Induction and Female Sexual BehaviourJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 10 2003A. E. Kudwa Abstract To test the hypothesis that oestrogen receptor , (ER,) and ER, act together to mediate the actions of oestrogen in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), we used mice with single or double knockout mutations of the ER, and ER, genes. Ovariectomized mice were implanted with 17,-oestradiol and killed 5 days later. Oestradiol treatment promoted progestin receptor (PR)-immunoreactivity (-ir) in the VMH of all genotypes, but was maximal in brains of wild-type and ER,KO females. Analysis of specific VMH subregions revealed that PR-ir induction was limited to the caudal VMH in ER,KO and ER,,KO mice. In the rostral VMH, oestradiol only induced PR-ir in wild-type and ER,KO mice, and the number of PR-ir neurones in this region was greater in ER,KO than wild-type females. Next, we tested the ability of a dopamine agonist and progesterone to facilitate sexual behaviour in females lacking functional ER,, ER,, or both receptors. Ovariectomized mice were implanted with oestradiol, and tested for sexual behaviour three times after administration of the dopamine agonist, apomorphine, followed by two tests concurrent with progesterone treatment and a final test with just apomorphine treatment. ER,KO and ER,,KO females failed to display lordosis under any testing conditions, while ER,KO females exhibited lordosis behaviour equal to that of wild-type females. Our data show that a subpopulation of PR-ir neurones is induced by oestradiol in the caudal VMH of female mice lacking both ER, and ER, genes. We hypothesize that this action of oestradiol is either mediated by a novel ER or by the mutant portion of the AF2 subregion of the ER, gene present in ER,KO brain. However, despite the presence of PR in VMH, females lacking a functional ER, gene do not display sexual behaviour, via either ligand-dependent or -independent activation. [source] Morphology of Reproductive Organs, Semen Quality and Sexual Behaviour of the Male Rabbit Exposed to a Soy-containing Diet and Soy-derived Isoflavones during Gestation and LactationREPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 6 2009JR Cardoso Contents Placental and breastfeeding transfer of soy isoflavones are potential routes for animal and human exposure to phytoestrogens, and reproductive dysfunctions have been linked to early exposure to these compounds. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of perinatal (intrauterine and lactational) exposure to soy-containing diet and soy-derived isoflavones on the reproductive parameters of male rabbits. For this purpose, 12 female rabbits were randomly assigned to receive: (1) a soy- and alfalfa-free diet (control diet); (2) a soy- and alfalfa-free diet supplemented with 10 mg/kg body wt/day of soy isoflavones; (3) a soy- and alfalfa-free diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg body wt/day of soy isoflavones; and (4) a diet containing 18% of soy meal, throughout gestation and lactation. Weight and morphology of the reproductive organs of some of the male offspring were evaluated at weaning (between days 29 and 31). The remaining males were placed on the control diet from weaning to adulthood (gestational and lactational exposure only). Sexual behaviour, semen quality and reproductive organs' morphology were evaluated after puberty. There were no significant differences in litter size and gestation duration between control and treatment groups. Perinatal exposure to soy-containing diet and soy isoflavones did not alter testis, epididymides, proprostate and prostate weight and gross morphology. After puberty, sexual behaviour and semen parameters did not differ significantly from the control group. These results indicate that intrauterine and lactational exposure to soy-containing diet and soy-derived isoflavones may not adversely affect reproductive development and function of male rabbits. [source] No Change Detected in Body Weight, Scrotal Circumference, Semen Characteristics and Sexual Behaviour during the Development of Prepubertal Milchschaf Lambs after Weekly Administration of eCGREPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 4 2008R Ungerfeld Contents To study the effects of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) on pubertal development, 38 Milchschaf spring born male lambs fathered by the same ram and grazing over native pasture as a single mob during all the experiment were divided into three groups as follows: group 100 (100 IU of eCG weekly i.m., n = 11), group 400 (400 IU of eCG weekly i.m., n = 12) and group 0 (controls, n = 15). Lambs were weighed and scrotal circumference was registered every 2 weeks since birth until 170 days of age (end of experiment). On days 125 and 167 semen was collected using an electroejaculator. Semen volume and concentration, mass and individual sperm motility (scale 0 to 5) and total number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate were recorded. The sexual behaviour of the lambs was evaluated twice, on days 127 and 170 in a pen test with oestrous ewes. There were no significant effects of treatment on body weight or scrotal circumference, semen characteristics or sexual behaviour. At least in the administration regimens tested, eCG treatment has no effect on prepubertal reproductive development of male lambs. [source] Morphology of Reproductive Organs, Semen Quality and Sexual Behaviour of the Male Rabbit Exposed to a Soy-containing Diet and Soy-derived Isoflavones during Gestation and LactationREPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 6 2009JR Cardoso Contents Placental and breastfeeding transfer of soy isoflavones are potential routes for animal and human exposure to phytoestrogens, and reproductive dysfunctions have been linked to early exposure to these compounds. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of perinatal (intrauterine and lactational) exposure to soy-containing diet and soy-derived isoflavones on the reproductive parameters of male rabbits. For this purpose, 12 female rabbits were randomly assigned to receive: (1) a soy- and alfalfa-free diet (control diet); (2) a soy- and alfalfa-free diet supplemented with 10 mg/kg body wt/day of soy isoflavones; (3) a soy- and alfalfa-free diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg body wt/day of soy isoflavones; and (4) a diet containing 18% of soy meal, throughout gestation and lactation. Weight and morphology of the reproductive organs of some of the male offspring were evaluated at weaning (between days 29 and 31). The remaining males were placed on the control diet from weaning to adulthood (gestational and lactational exposure only). Sexual behaviour, semen quality and reproductive organs' morphology were evaluated after puberty. There were no significant differences in litter size and gestation duration between control and treatment groups. Perinatal exposure to soy-containing diet and soy isoflavones did not alter testis, epididymides, proprostate and prostate weight and gross morphology. After puberty, sexual behaviour and semen parameters did not differ significantly from the control group. These results indicate that intrauterine and lactational exposure to soy-containing diet and soy-derived isoflavones may not adversely affect reproductive development and function of male rabbits. [source] Sexual behaviour and diagnosis of people over the age of 50 attending a sexual health clinicAUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL ON AGEING, Issue 1 2009Chris Bourne Objectives:,To investigate the sexual health and behaviour of older Australians attending a sexual health clinic. Methods:,A retrospective patient record of people aged 50 years and over attending the clinic. Results:,2438 people aged 50 years and over attending. The main reasons for attending were assessment of genital symptoms (40%), testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (23%), and HIV testing/care (13%); more than 50% of the clients had a previous sexual health problem and more than 50% had not been tested for HIV. Men reported more lifetime sexual partners than women and were significantly more likely to report using condoms (P < 0.05), although condom use was variable. Genital herpes (10% women, 6% men) and non-gonococcal urethritis (9% men) were the most commonly diagnosed STIs. Conclusions:,High levels of unsafe sex and many important sexual health problems were identified which provide direction for public health interventions for older sexually active Australians. [source] Understanding sexual offending in schizophreniaCRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 2 2004Christopher R. Drake M Clin Psych MAPS Background Studies have found an elevated incidence of violent sexual offences in males with schizophrenia. The relationship between sexual offending and psychiatric illness is, however, complex and poorly defined. Aims The aim of the present article is to delineate possible mechanisms that underlie offensive sexual behaviour in schizophrenia that can be used as a framework for assessing and treating these behaviours. A review of research pertaining to the aetiology of sexual deviance in schizophrenia was conducted, focusing in particular on the role of early childhood experiences, deviant sexual preferences, antisocial personality traits, psychiatric symptomatology and associated treatment effects, the impact of mental illness on sexual and social functioning, and other potential contributory factors. Towards a typology It is proposed that schizophrenic patients who engage in sexually offensive activities fall into four broad groups: (1) those with a pre-existing paraphilia; (2) those whose deviant sexuality arises in the context of illness and/or its treatment; (3) those whose deviant sexuality is one manifestation of more generalized antisocial behaviour, and (4) factors other than the above. This classification provides a useful framework for evaluating and treating sexually offensive behaviours in schizophrenic patients. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Racial Metaphors: Interpreting Sex and AIDS in AfricaDEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE, Issue 5 2003Eileen Stillwaggon Western preconceptions regarding African sexuality distorted early research on the social context of AIDS in Africa and limited the scope of preventive policies. Key works cited repeatedly in the social science and policy literature constructed a hypersexualized pan,African culture as the main reason for the high prevalence of HIV in sub,Saharan Africa. Africans were portrayed as the social ,Other' in works marked by sweeping generalizations and innuendo, rather than useful comparative data on sexual behaviour. Although biomedical studies demonstrate the role of numerous factors that influence HIV transmission among poor people, a narrowly behavioural explanation dominated the AIDS,in,Africa discourse for over a decade and still circumscribes preventive strategies in Africa and elsewhere. [source] Whole body extract of Mediterranean fruit fly males elicits high attraction in virgin femalesENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, Issue 1 2008Vassilis G. Mavraganis Abstract The search for effective female attractants emanating from the host or body of fruit flies has been an area of intensive research for over three decades. In the present study, bodies of male Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), were extracted with diethyl ether or methanol and subjected to gas chromatography,mass spectrometry. Analysis revealed substantial qualitative and quantitative differences between males from a laboratory culture and wild males captured alive in an orchard. Most notably, the hydrocarbon sesquiterpene (±)-,-copaene, which is known to be involved in the sexual behaviour of the species, was found in substantial amounts in wild males, but was not detected in laboratory males. In laboratory tests, 15 laboratory or wild male equivalents of diethyl ether extracts or combined diethyl ether and methanol extracts, or, to a lesser extent, methanol extracts alone, were found to attract virgin females. In a citrus orchard, traps baited with combined diethyl ether and methanol extracts of wild males attracted significantly more virgin females than traps baited with various doses of pyranone or blends of other compounds identified in the extracts or reported in the literature, such as ethyl acetate, ethyl-(E)-3-octenoate, and 1-pyrroline. Traps baited with blends of compounds, however, displayed substantial attractiveness compared to control (non-baited) traps. These results are important for better understanding the mating system of C. capitata as well as for further improving existing monitoring and control systems. [source] Captures of the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae on spheres of different coloursENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, Issue 2 2001Byron I. Katsoyannos Abstract Alighting and capture of wild olive fruit flies, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera, Tephritidae), on spheres of seven different colours was studied on Chios island, Greece. The 70-mm-diam plastic spheres, coated with adhesive, were suspended on olive trees. Yellow and orange spheres trapped the greatest number of males while red and black spheres trapped the greatest number of females. White and blue spheres were the least effective for both sexes. Peak captures occurred in the late afternoon and especially around sunset. Since mating takes place in the last hours of the photophase, the increased captures during that period may be related to the sexual behaviour of the fly. When red spheres were assessed against glass McPhail traps baited with 2% ammonium sulphate, which consist a standard tool for monitoring the olive fruit fly in Greece, there were no significant differences in male captures. However, spheres trapped almost three times as many females as McPhail traps. The possible mechanisms underlying colour discrimination, the motivation of alighting flies and the possible use of red spheres for monitoring and controlling B. oleae are discussed. [source] Strategies for the management of donkey jacks in intensive breeding systemsEQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION, Issue 12 2009I. F. Canisso Summary Donkeys are bred throughout the world and often play an important role in agriculture. They are also bred to produce mules. Traditionally, jacks are considered challenging to breed in domestic conditions, whether for natural breeding or semen collection using either jennies or mares. The donkey's natural sexual behaviour significantly differs from that of other domestic animals. This presents challenges for in-hand donkey breeding, particularly on mule studs where normally only jacks and mares are kept for breeding. This article describes some of the authors' observations on sexual behaviour in donkeys and practical experience of some of the strategies employed to apply this knowledge to breeding management, in order to improve the success of using donkeys for both natural service and semen collection. [source] What Females Tell Males About Their Reproductive Status: Are Morphological and Behavioural Cues Reliable Signals of Ovulation in Bonobos (Pan paniscus)?ETHOLOGY, Issue 7 2002Karin E. Reichert In many Old World primate species, female attractivity increases during the tumescent phase of the sexual swelling for a period that lasts considerably longer than oestrus-related attractivity in other mammals. We examined the reliability of the swelling as an indicator of ovulation in captive bonobos, a species with a long and variable phase of maximum tumescence. Using a combined approach of (1) observations of sexual behaviour, (2) visual scoring of the sexual swelling and (3) analysis of faecal progestin to assess the timing of ovulation during 23 ovulatory cycles of eight adult females, we found that in 30% of these cycles the presumed day of ovulation did not fall within the period of maximum tumescence. When ovulation did occur during maximum swelling, it was more closely related to the end rather than the onset of the maximum swelling period. However, the pattern of sexual swelling was not a reliable indicator of ovulation. In addition, sexual behaviour of both sexes increased in frequency with the degree of the swelling but not around the time of ovulation. We conclude that swellings in bonobos provide honest information on the probability of ovulation, but not its exact timing, and that therefore the `obvious ovulation'-hypothesis cannot explain the function of sexual swellings in bonobos. [source] Oxytocin injected into the ventral tegmental area induces penile erection and increases extracellular dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus of male ratsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 4 2007Maria Rosaria Melis Abstract The neuropeptide oxytocin (20,100 ng), induces penile erection when injected unilaterally into the caudal but not rostral mesencephalic ventral tegmental area (VTA) of male Sprague,Dawley rats. Such pro-erectile effect started 30 min after treatment and was abolished by the prior injection of d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)2 -Orn8 -vasotocin (1 µg), an oxytocin receptor antagonist injected into the same caudal ventral tegmental area or of haloperidol (1 µg), a dopamine receptor antagonist, injected either into the nucleus accumbens shell (NAs) or into the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) ipsilateral to the injected ventral tegmental area. Penile erection was seen 15 min after the occurrence of, or concomitantly to, an increase in extracellular dopamine and its metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the dialysate obtained from the nucleus accumbens or the paraventricular nucleus, which was also abolished by d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)2 -Orn8 -vasotocin (1 µg), injected into the ventral tegmental area before oxytocin. In the caudal ventral tegmental area oxytocin-containing axons/fibres (originating from the paraventricular nucleus) appeared to closely contact cell bodies of mesolimbic dopaminergic neurons retrogradely labelled with Fluorogold injected into the nucleus accumbens shell, suggesting that oxytocin effects are mediated by the activation of mesolimbic dopaminergic neurons, followed in turn by that of incerto-hypothalamic dopaminergic neurons impinging on oxytocinergic neurons mediating penile erection. As the stimulation of paraventricular dopamine receptors not only induces penile erection, but also increases mesolimbic dopamine neurotransmission by activating oxytocinergic neurons, these results provide further support for the existence of a neural circuit in which dopamine and oxytocin influence both the consummatory and motivational/rewarding aspects of sexual behaviour. [source] Neuroanatomical specificity in the expression of the immediate early gene c-fos following expression of appetitive and consummatory male sexual behaviour in Japanese quailEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 7 2006M. Taziaux Abstract We investigated the neural sites related to the occurrence of appetitive (ASB) and consummatory (CSB) aspects of male sexual behaviour in Japanese quail. Castrated males treated with testosterone were exposed for 5 min to one of four experimental conditions: (i) free interaction with a female (CSB group); (ii) expression of rhythmic cloacal sphincter movements in response to the visual presentation of a female (ASB-F group); (iii) or a male (ASB-M group), and (iv) handling as a control manipulation. Brains were collected 90 min after the start of behavioural tests and stained by immunocytochemistry for the FOS protein. An increase in FOS expression was observed throughout the rostro-caudal extent of the medial preoptic nucleus (POM) in CSB males, whereas the view of a female (ASB-F) induced an increased FOS expression in the rostral POM only. In the CSB group, there was also an increase in FOS expression in the bed nucleus striae terminalis, and both the CSB and ASB-F groups exhibited increased FOS expression in aspects of the ventro-lateral thalamus (VLT) related to visual processing. Moreover, both the CSB and ASB-M groups showed increased FOS expression in the lateral septum. These data provide additional support to the idea that there is a partial anatomical dissociation between structures involved in the control of both aspects of male sexual behaviour and independently provide data consistent with a previous lesion study that indicated that the rostral and caudal POM differentially control the expression of ASB and CSB in quail. [source] The vomeronasal organ is required for the expression of lordosis behaviour, but not sex discrimination in female miceEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 2 2006Matthieu Keller Abstract The role of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) in mediating neuroendocrine responses in female mice is well known; however, whether the VNO is equally important for sex discrimination is more controversial as evidence exists for a role of the main olfactory system in mate recognition. Therefore, we studied the effect of VNO removal (VNOx) on the ability of female mice to discriminate between volatile and non-volatile odours of conspecifics of the two sexes and in different endocrine states using Y-maze tests. VNOx female mice were able to reliably distinguish between male and female or male and gonadectomized (gdx) male volatile odours. However, when subjects had to discriminate between male and female or gdx male non-volatile odours, VNOx females were no longer able to discriminate between sex or different endocrine status. These results thus show that the VNO is primarily involved in the detection and processing of non-volatile odours, and that female mice can use volatile odours detected and processed by the main olfactory system for mate recognition. However, VNO inputs are needed to promote contact with the male, including facilitation of lordosis responses to his mounts. A single subcutaneous injection with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) partially reversed the deficit in lordosis behaviour observed in VNOx females suggesting that VNO inputs may reach hypothalamic GnRH neurons to influence the display of sexual behaviour. [source] Acute hepatitis C in HIV-infected men who have sex with menHIV MEDICINE, Issue 4 2004J Ghosn Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is usually transmitted via the parenteral route, but there are widely discrepant findings on its possible sexual transmission. Thus there are no recommendations concerning protected sex for couples in which only one partner is HCV-infected. Whether HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases could favour HCV transmission remains unclear, but recent data suggesting an increasing incidence of acute HCV in HIV-infected men underline the major public health implications of this issue. Case reports Between June 2002 and July 2003, five HIV-infected homosexually active men presented with primary (n=4) and secondary (n=1) syphilis and concomitant abnormal liver function tests revealing acute asymptomatic HCV seroconversion. Other causes of acute viral hepatitis were inquired into and excluded. Highly at-risk sexual behaviour, including unprotected anal intercourse and unsafe oral sex, with concomitant syphilis, was found to be the only identifiable important risk factor for transmission of HCV. Conclusions Sexual transmission may be fuelling a significant increase in HCV seroconversions among HIV-infected men who have highly risky sexual behaviours. Given the recent data suggesting the spread of sexually transmitted infections among HIV-infected gay men, specific recommendations concerning safe sex are urgently needed. [source] Developmental toxicity of UV filters and environmental exposure: a reviewINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 2 2008Margret Schlumpf Summary Several ultraviolet (UV) filters exhibit estrogenic, some also anti-androgenic activity. They are present in waste water treatment plants, surface waters and biosphere including human milk, suggesting potential exposure during development. Developmental toxicity was studied in rats for the UV filters 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC, 0.7, 7, 24, 47 mg/kg/day) and 3-benzylidene camphor (3-BC, 0.07, 0.24, 0.7, 2.4, 7 mg/kg/day) administered in chow to the parent generation before mating, during pregnancy and lactation, and to the offspring until adulthood. Neonates exhibited enhanced prostate growth after 4-MBC and altered uterine gene expression after both chemicals. 4-MBC and 3-BC delayed male puberty and affected reproductive organ weights of adult offspring. Effects on the thyroid axis were also noted. Expression and oestrogen sensitivity of oestrogen-regulated genes and nuclear receptor coregulator levels were altered at mRNA and protein levels in adult uterus, prostate and brain regions involved in gonadal control and sexual behaviour. Female sexual behaviour was impaired by both filters; 3-benzylidene camphor caused irregular cycles. Classical endpoints exhibited lowest observed adverse effect levels (LOAELs) and no observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) of 7/0.7 mg/kg for 4-MBC and 0.24/0.07 mg/kg for 3-BC. Molecular endpoints were affected by the lowest doses studied. Our data indicate that the potential risk posed by endocrine active UV filters warrants further investigations. [source] How work-place conditions, environmental toxicants and lifestyle affect male reproductive function,INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 5 2002Jens Peter Bonde Summary Major temporal and geographical shifts in male reproductive function is presently an issue worldwide. The hormonal disruption hypothesis has achieved considerable attention but epidemiological evidence in support of the theory is lacking. Several occupational hazards to male reproductive function are known but exposure prevalences are hardly sufficient to play a role for reduced sperm count in the general male population. Sedentary work may be an exception. Perhaps prolonged time in the sedentary position exhausts the testicular heat regulation. But so far studies addressing implications of the heat hypothesis in the general population are few. Neither change of sexual behaviour nor reduced period of sexual continence seems to be a likely explanation. Tobacco smoking and consumption of caffeine and alcoholic beverages in adulthood have a rather marginal impact on spermatogenesis and can hardly explain major shifts or regional differences in male reproductive health. However, prenatal effects following smoking during pregnancy might play a role because we have witnessed a smoking epidemic among fertile women in some countries during the second half of the twentieth century. Moreover, if genetic factors play more than a marginal role for testicular function and sperm count, pregnancy planning resulting in reduced family size during the past 100 years could possibly explain a decline in semen quality because the most fertile part of the population reproduce less while the subfertile probably continue to get a limited number of children. [source] A Psychoeducational Group for Men with Intellectual Disabilities Who Have Sex with MenJOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, Issue 4 2001Paul Withers The sexuality and sexual behaviour of people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) is one of the most complex and unresolved issues faced by service providers. Despite much evidence suggesting the disproportionately high risks faced by men with IDs who have sex with men, no epidemiological research has been conducted on the prevalence of HIV within this population. Current thinking suggests that self-help groups are efficacious in helping participants to develop positive sexual identities and to share information about safer sexual practices. The present study is a qualitative evaluation of a pilot support group for men with IDs who have sex with men. Themes relating to the formation of sexual identity and safety issues were extrapolated using content analysis from a transcript of the final group session. The implications for service delivery are discussed. The evaluation was conducted by a clinical psychologist external to the group and the members of the group. [source] GPR30 Differentially Regulates Short Latency Responses of Luteinising Hormone and Prolactin Secretion to OestradiolJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 9 2009D. Lebesgue Rapid, nongenomic actions of 17,-oestradiol (E2) on hypothalamic neurones that may be relevant to reproductive function were described decades ago. The orphan G protein-coupled receptor, GPR30, was recently shown to bind oestrogens and to trigger rapid signalling in vitro, and is expressed in several rat and human brain regions, including the hypothalamus. We used two complementary approaches to investigate the role of GPR30 in hypothalamic responses to E2 that are relevant to reproductive physiology. Serial blood sampling after the acute administration of the selective GPR30 agonist G1 was used to assess the role of GPR30 in short latency negative-feedback inhibition of luteinising hormone (LH) secretion and facilitation of prolactin secretion in ovariohysterectomised female rats. In vivo RNA interference (RNAi), mediated by adeno-associated virus-expressing small hairpin RNA (shRNA) infused into the mediobasal hypothalamus, was used to study the effects of GPR30 knockdown on these rapid responses to E2. Longer-term actions of E2 on female sexual behaviour (lordosis) were also examined in female rats subjected to in vivo RNAi. Administration of E2 or G1 triggered a short latency surge of prolactin secretion, and animals subjected to GPR30 RNAi showed significantly less E2 -dependent prolactin release than animals receiving control virus. G1 did not mimic E2 negative-feedback inhibition of LH secretion, and GPR30 RNAi did not interfere with E2 suppression of LH or facilitation of lordosis behaviour. These findings suggest that activation of GPR30 promotes short latency prolactin secretion but does not mediate E2 negative-feedback inhibition of LH secretion or E2 facilitation of female reproductive behaviour. [source] Mechanisms Mediating Oestradiol Modulation of the Developing BrainJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 6 2008M. M. McCarthy The brain has been known to be a sensitive target organ for the permanent organisational effects of gonadal steroids for close to 50 years. Recent advances have revealed a variety of unexpected cellular mechanisms by which steroids impact on the synaptic profile of hypothalamic nuclei critical to the control of reproduction. This review focuses on three in particular: 1) prostaglandins in the masculinisation of the preoptic area and control of male sexual behaviour; 2) GABA in the arcuate nucleus and potential control of the anterior pituitary; and 3) non-genomic activation of phosphotydolinositol 3 (PI3) kinase and glutamate in the ventromedial nucleus, which is relevant to the control of female reproductive behaviour. The importance of cell-to-cell communication, be it between neurones or between neurones and astrocytes, is highlighted as an essential principle for expanding the impact of steroids beyond those cells that express nuclear receptors. [source] Exposure to Oestrogen Prenatally Does Not Interfere with the Normal Female-Typical Development of Odour PreferencesJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 5 2007J. Bakker The neural mechanisms controlling mate recognition and heterosexual partner preference are sexually differentiated by perinatal actions of sex steroid hormones. We previously showed that the most important action of oestrogen during prenatal development is to defeminise and, to some extent, masculinise brain and behaviour in mice. Female mice deficient in alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) due to a targeted mutation in the Afp gene (AFP-KO) do not show any female sexual behaviour when paired with an active male because they lack the protective action of AFP against maternal oestrogens. In the present study, we investigated whether odour preferences, another sexually differentiated trait in mice, are also defeminised and/or masculinised in AFP-KO females due to their prenatal exposure to oestrogens. AFP-KO females of two background strains (CD1 and C57Bl/6j) preferred to investigate male over female odours when given the choice between these two odour stimuli in a Y-maze, and thus remained very female-like in this regard. Thus, the absence of lordosis behaviour in these females cannot be explained by a reduced motivation of AFP-KO females to investigate male-derived odours. Furthermore, the presence of a strong male-directed odour preference in AFP-KO females suggests a postnatal contribution of oestrogens to the development of preferences to investigate opposite-sex odours. [source] Noradrenergic Innervation of the Ventromedial Hypothalamus is Involved in Mating-Induced Pseudopregnancy in the Female RatJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 8 2006L. E. Northrop The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) is an oestrogen-responsive area known to facilitate female sexual behaviour in the rat. The VMH is innervated by noradrenergic neurones projecting from the brain stem, and it has been demonstrated that noradrenaline receptor activation in the VMH plays a role in the expression of the lordosis reflex. Noradrenaline has been shown to be released within the VMH after a female receives vaginocervical stimulation (VCS) from the male during mating. VCS also is required to induce twice-daily surges of prolactin (PRL) characteristic of early pregnancy or pseudopregnancy (PSP). To determine whether noradrenaline within the ventrolateral ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl) plays a facilitatory role in initiation of PSP, we administered the ,1 -noradrenergic receptor agonist, phenylephrine, and the ,2 -autoreceptor antagonist, yohimbine, unilaterally into the VMHvl. Phenylephrine stimulated PSP in 85.7% of females given an amount of VCS known to be subthreshold for the induction of PSP, whereas saline infusion (0%) or cannula misplacement (7.7%) were ineffective. Yohimbine had a similar effect, inducing PSP in 85.7% of females, whereas 7.6% of both control groups together showed PSP. Finally, bilateral blockade of ,1 -receptors using prazosin blocked PSP in 100% of females given sufficient VCS to induce PSP, whereas saline infusion or misplaced intracerebral cannulae failed to prevent PSP in any animal. In all experiments, vaginal dioestrous was indicative of PSP, in that animals showed a mean number of days between oestrus of 12.8 ± 0.9. The results of the study demonstrate an important role for the VMHvl in initiation of PSP and suggest that the release of noradrenaline in the VMHvl at the time of mating contributes to neuroendocrine mechanisms responsible for establishing PSP in the female rat. [source] Comparative Analysis of Immunoreactive Cells for Androgen Receptors and Oestrogen Receptor , in Copulating and Non-Copulating Male RatsJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 3 2006W. Portillo Abstract In some species, including gerbils, guinea pigs, mice, rams and rats, some apparently normal males fail to mate. These kinds of animals have been named ,noncopulating (NC)'. The cause of this behavioural deficit is unknown. The present study aimed to determine whether NC male rats have alterations in the amount of androgen (AR) and oestrogen receptor , (ER,) in a neuronal circuit important for the control of male sexual behaviour; the vomeronasal projection pathway. We evaluated the number of AR and ER, immunoreactive (AR-IR and ER,-IR) cells in the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB), the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), the anterior-dorsal medial amygdala (MeAD), the posterior dorsal amygdala (MePD) and the medial preoptic area (MPOA). The results demonstrate that the number of AR-IR cells in NC males was significantly higher compared to copulating (C) males in the MePD, but no significant differences were found in any of the other structures analysed. ER,-IR cells were more abundant in NC than in C males in the MeAD and the MePD. However, in the MPOA the number of ER,-IR cells was significantly reduced in NC males. No significant differences were found in the AOB or in the BNST. A similar pattern of results was observed when regions within these structures that are activated by Fos expression, on mating or exposure to sexually relevant cues were analysed. The differences in the number of AR and ER in particular brain areas could be associated with alterations in sexual behaviour as well as partner and olfactory preference for receptive females seen in NC male rats. [source] Double Oestrogen Receptor , and , Knockout Mice Reveal Differences in Neural Oestrogen-Mediated Progestin Receptor Induction and Female Sexual BehaviourJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 10 2003A. E. Kudwa Abstract To test the hypothesis that oestrogen receptor , (ER,) and ER, act together to mediate the actions of oestrogen in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), we used mice with single or double knockout mutations of the ER, and ER, genes. Ovariectomized mice were implanted with 17,-oestradiol and killed 5 days later. Oestradiol treatment promoted progestin receptor (PR)-immunoreactivity (-ir) in the VMH of all genotypes, but was maximal in brains of wild-type and ER,KO females. Analysis of specific VMH subregions revealed that PR-ir induction was limited to the caudal VMH in ER,KO and ER,,KO mice. In the rostral VMH, oestradiol only induced PR-ir in wild-type and ER,KO mice, and the number of PR-ir neurones in this region was greater in ER,KO than wild-type females. Next, we tested the ability of a dopamine agonist and progesterone to facilitate sexual behaviour in females lacking functional ER,, ER,, or both receptors. Ovariectomized mice were implanted with oestradiol, and tested for sexual behaviour three times after administration of the dopamine agonist, apomorphine, followed by two tests concurrent with progesterone treatment and a final test with just apomorphine treatment. ER,KO and ER,,KO females failed to display lordosis under any testing conditions, while ER,KO females exhibited lordosis behaviour equal to that of wild-type females. Our data show that a subpopulation of PR-ir neurones is induced by oestradiol in the caudal VMH of female mice lacking both ER, and ER, genes. We hypothesize that this action of oestradiol is either mediated by a novel ER or by the mutant portion of the AF2 subregion of the ER, gene present in ER,KO brain. However, despite the presence of PR in VMH, females lacking a functional ER, gene do not display sexual behaviour, via either ligand-dependent or -independent activation. [source] Response to Male Odours in Progestin Receptor- and Oestrogen Receptor-Containing Cells in Female Rat BrainJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 6 2002A. L. Bennett Abstract Sensory cues from male rats, such as odours and vaginal-cervical stimulation (VCS), play a modulatory role in female rat sexual behaviour. For example, exposure to male odours and VCS appears to be at least partially responsible for increases in sexual behaviour following repeated mating of oestradiol-primed female rats. Although there is evidence that VCS influences sexual behaviour via a ligand-independent progestin receptor (PR)-dependent mechanism, the mechanism by which odours influence sexual behaviour is not known. We tested the hypothesis that, similar to VCS, the effects of male odours on sexual behaviour are mediated by progestin receptors. Female rats were injected with the progestin antagonist, RU486, or oil vehicle and were then exposed to male-soiled bedding or clean bedding. Although exposure to male-soiled bedding resulted in higher levels of Fos immunoreactivity in brain areas associated with female sexual behaviour, the progestin antagonist did not reduce this effect. Furthermore, there was minimal coexpression of odour-induced Fos and progestin receptors in brain areas associated with female sexual behaviour. Together, these results suggest that the effects of male odours are not mediated by a PR-dependent mechanism. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that oestrogen receptor (ER)-containing cells are involved in the effects of olfactory cues. Although there was virtually no coexpression of ER, and odour-induced Fos in brain areas associated with female sexual behaviour, exposure to male odours slightly increased the number of cells coexpressing ER, and odour-induced Fos in the posterodorsal medial amygdala. Although, these results do not support the hypothesis that the effects of odours are mediated by a PR-dependent mechanism, they suggest that integration of male odours and hormonal cues may occur in ER,-containing cells in the posterodorsal medial amygdala. [source] Serotonergic Neurones in the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus That Project into the Medial Preoptic Area Contain Oestrogen Receptor ,JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 10 2001H. Lu Abstract Serotonin is involved in female sexual behaviour in which the medial preoptic area (MPA) has a pivotal role. The present study used immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and retrograde transport analysis to investigate whether serotonin neurones in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) of females projecting into the MPA contained oestrogen receptor , or ,. The projection of serotonin neurones from the DRN to the MPA was confirmed using the microinjection of Fluoro-Gold (FG), a fluorescent retrograde tracer, into the MPA of ovariectomized (OVX-group) and OVX-rats treated with oestradiol benzoate (E2-group). A number of serotonin neurones in the DRN were labelled with FG, indicating that these serotonin neurones in DRN project their terminals into the MPA. FG-labelled serotonin neurones expressed ER, mRNA in the DRN, and the number of the serotonin neurones containing ER, mRNA between the OVX-group and the E2-treated group was not significantly different. Serotonin neurones in the DRN did not express ER,-immunoreactivity. Since previous findings showed that the density of serotonin-immunoreactive fibres and the concentration of serotonin within the MPA was significantly lower in the E2-group than the OVX-group, our present observations suggested that the regulatory effects of E2 on the serotonergic neurone system in the MPA may be via ER, within the serotonin-containing cells in the DRN of female rats. [source] Oestrogen Receptor , is Essential for Female-Directed Chemo-Investigatory Behaviour but is not Required for the Pheromone-Induced Luteinizing Hormone Surge in Male MiceJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 2 2000S. R. Wersinger The expression of normal masculine sexual behaviour requires testosterone. Testosterone can bind to androgen receptors, either in its native form, or after reduction to other androgen metabolites. In addition, testosterone can be aromatized to oestrogen, and bind to oestrogen receptor , and/or ,. Male copulatory behaviour is deficient in mice lacking functional oestrogen receptor , gene (ER,KO mice). We sought to determine which aspect(s) of masculine sexual behaviour is compromised in the ER,KOs. Specifically, we asked whether ER,KO males have reduced motivation and/or an inability to recognize oestrous females. We found significant differences between mice of different genotypes in the amount of chemo-investigatory behaviour displayed and in the target of their investigation. Wild-type males spent more time investigating ovariectomized, oestradiol-treated females, than either males, or ovariectomized females that had not received hormone priming. ER,KO males spent little time investigating any of the stimulus mice and showed no preferences. To test the hypothesis that this lack of chemo-investigatory behaviour is due to the inability of ER,KO males to detect and respond to female pheromones, we exposed males to chemosensory cues (soiled bedding) from females. Males resided in clean, or female-soiled, cage bedding for 60 min. Next, blood was collected and plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) assayed. We also assessed Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-ir) in several neural regions involved in processing chemosensory cues. Despite the fact that male ER,KOs spend little time engaged in chemo-investigation of females, their neuroendocrine responses to female-soiled bedding were similar to those seen in wild-type males. Our data suggest that the normal coupling between the neuroendocrine response to females and the generation of sexual behaviour is disrupted in ER,KO mice. Responses to female pheromones do not require ER,. However, normal male sexual performance requires the ER, gene. [source] The sexual and relationship needs of people who experience psychosis: quantitative findings of a UK studyJOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 4 2010E. MCCANN phd rmn msc dippi pgdip academic practice fhea Accessible summary ,,Distinct lack of studies exist that explore sexual and relationship issues. ,,Captures important experiences of people who use mental health services. ,,Reveals potential obstacles to the expression of sexuality. ,,Identifies a diversity of needs. ,,Presents issues that may guide mental health practice, education and research. Abstract Few studies have investigated the experiences of people regarding sexual and relationship issues in the area of mental health. This study presents the quantitative findings of a larger study that was conducted in London, UK. The aims of the study were to establish client's sexual and relationship experiences and perceived needs. A total of 30 people with a medical diagnosis of schizophrenia, living in the community, were interviewed using three questionnaires. The first related to demographics, the second used relevant parts of the Camberwell Assessment of Need (CAN) and the third looked at possible determinants of sexual behaviour. The CAN also captured keyworker responses to issues related to their clients sexual and relationship requirements. The results showed that 83% of the clients were currently experiencing sexual feelings. Some 90% of clients felt some need in relation to sexual expression and 83% for needs related to intimate relationships. Only 10% of staff recognized sexual expression as a need in clients in their care and 43% perceived a need for intimate relationships. Furthermore, most clients interviewed thought that their psychotropic medication caused sexual problems. Contrasts are made with other studies to help highlight the important issues that emerged for service users. [source] Chemical ecology of triatomine bugs: vectors of Chagas diseaseMEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2001L. Cruz-López Abstract. Knowledge of chemical ecology of haematophagous triatomine bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) could be of practical value because this polyphyletic subfamily includes species of medical importance, such as vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), the aetiological agent of Chagas disease. For particular species of Dipetalogaster, Panstrongylus, Rhodnius and Triatoma, therefore, we review information on exocrine glands and products, interpreting their apparent roles as semiochemicals in the aggregation, alarm, defence, host-finding and sexual behaviour of these Triatominae. [source] Medical student attitudes to risk taking and self-perceived influence on medical practiceMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 8 2006Michael Weissberg Context, Little has been published on medical student risk-taking attitudes and behaviours and whether students think these attributes will affect how they treat patients. Objectives, Our aims were to assess for an association between risk-taking attitudes and behaviours, such as problematic substance use, self-reported risky behaviours, and self-reported accidents, and to test for an association between risk-taking attitudes and student perceptions of the influence of these attitudes on future clinical practice. Methods, Three consecutive classes of Year 2 medical students (n = 315) completed a self-administered, 29-item questionnaire. Risk-taking attitudes were evaluated using a 6-question, risk-taking scale adapted from the Jackson Personality Inventory (JPI). Results, A significant positive correlation was demonstrated between risk-taking attitudes (JPI) and problematic substance use (r = 0.34; P < 0.01), self-reported risky behaviours (r = 0.47; P < 0.01), and self-reported accidents (r = 0.33; P < 0.01). Students who did not think their attitudes toward risk would affect their clinical decision making scored significantly higher on our measure of risk-taking attitudes (t306 = , 4.60; P < 0.01). Students who did not think that their drinking, drug taking or sexual behaviour would affect how they counselled patients on these matters scored significantly higher on our measure of problematic substance use (t307 = , 2.51; P = 0.01). Conclusions, Although risk-taking attitudes have been associated with significant differences in clinical decision making among doctors, in our sample students with high risk-taking attitudes and behaviours were significantly less likely than their colleagues to think their attitudes would affect their clinical practice. Implications for medical education are discussed. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||