The Testosterone Metabolite 3α-Diol Enhances Female Rat Sexual Motivation When Infused in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell

• Published in: Journal of sexual medicine 2010-11, Vol.7 (11), p.3598-3609
• Main Authors: Sánchez Montoya, Eliana L., Hernández, Lizaida, Barreto-Estrada, Jennifer L., Ortiz, José G., Jorge, Juan Carlos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Androstane-3,17-diol - metabolism; Androstanediol; Animals; Dihydrotestosterone - metabolism; Female; Glutamate Decarboxylase - metabolism; Hormonal Changes during Menopause; Lordosis; Male; Metabolites; Motivation; Natural Rewards; Nucleus accumbens; Nucleus Accumbens - enzymology; Nucleus Accumbens Shell; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, GABA-A - drug effects; Sexual behavior; Sexual Behavior, Animal - physiology; Sexual Motivation; Testosterone; Testosterone - metabolism; Videotape Recording
• ISSN: 1743-6095; 1743-6109
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.01937.x

The purpose of this study was to provide a quantitative assessment of female rat sexual behaviors after acute exposure to the A-ring reduced testosterone metabolite, androstanediol (3α-Diol), through the nucleus accumbens (NA) shell. Quantitative analyses of female rat sexual behaviors and assessment of protein levels for the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase isoform 67 (GAD67) and gephyrin, a protein that participates in the clustering of GABA-A receptors in postsynaptic cells, were accomplished. Female rats were ovariectomized and primed with estrogen and progesterone to induce sexual behaviors. Females received a 3α-Diol infusion via guided cannula that aimed to the NA shell five minutes prior to a sexual encounter with a stud male. The following parameters were videotaped and measured in a frame by frame analysis: lordosis quotient (LQ), Lordosis rating (LR), frequency and duration of proceptive behaviors (hopping/darting and ear wiggling). Levels of GAD67 and gephyrin were obtained by Western blot analysis two or twenty-four hours after the sexual encounter. Acute exposure to 3α-Diol in the NA shell enhanced LR, ear wiggling, and hopping/darting but not LQ. Some of these behavioral effects were counteracted by co-infusion of 3α-Diol plus the GABAA-receptor antagonist GABAzine. A transient reduction of GAD67 levels in the NA shell was detected. The testosterone metabolite 3α-Diol enhances sexual proceptivity, but not receptivity, when infused into the NA shell directly. The GABAergic system may participate in the androgen-mediated enhancement of female rat sexual motivation. Sánchez Montoya EL, Hernández L, Barreto-Estrada JL, Ortiz JG, and Jorge JC. The testosterone metabolite 3α-Diol enhances female rat sexual motivation when infused in the nucleus accumbens shell.