Journal
STEROIDS
Volume 81, Issue -, Pages 17-25Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2013.11.009
Keywords
Nongenomic; Progestin; Neurosteroids; Reproduction
Funding
- NIGMS NIH HHS [R15 GM100461] Funding Source: Medline
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Evidence is emerging of the role of membrane progestin receptors (referred to as mPRs herein: members of Progestin and AdipoQ Receptor (Paqr) family) as a novel brain target in mammals, such as rats. In the present study, the role of mPRs in mice was assessed to further elucidate the conservation of this mechanism across species. The brain target investigated was the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) given its described role for rapid actions of progestins for reproduction. Studies tested the hypothesis that if mPRs are required for progestin-facilitated lordosis through actions in the VTA, then knockdown of mPRs in the VTA will attenuate lordosis. Ovariectomized (OVX) mice were subcutaneously injected with estradiol (E-2) and progesterone (P-4), and infused with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODNs) to mPR alpha (Paqr7) and/or mPR beta (Paqr8) or vehicle to the lateral ventricle or VTA. Mice were assessed for reproductive behavior (lordosis and aggression/rejection quotients) in a standard mating task. Results supported our hypothesis. E-2 + P-4-facilitated lordosis was significantly reduced, and aggression/rejection increased, with infusions of mPRc alpha, mPR beta, or mPR alpha beta AS-ODNs to the lateral ventricle, compared to vehicle. E-2 + P-4-facilitated lordosis was significantly decreased, and aggression/rejection increased, with mPR beta or mPR alpha beta AS-ODNs to the VTA of C57/BL6 mice. Both mPR alpha and mPR beta AS-ODNs reduced lordosis, and increased aggression/rejection, of wildtype (C57/BL6x129) mice, but not nuclear PR knockout mice. Thus, mPRs may be a novel target of progestins for reproductive behavior of mice. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available