Date of Award
Fall 12-15-2010
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Andrew N. Clancy, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Barbara Baumstark, Ph.D.
Third Advisor
Therese Poole, Ph.D.
Abstract
Male rat copulatory behavior is dependent on Testosterone (T) and its metabolites, estradiol (E2) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The estrogen receptor (ER) isoforms, ERα and ERβ, exist in the medial Amygdala (MEA) and either receptor might mediate mating behavior. Therefore, the effects of selective estrogenic MEA implants: propyl pyrazole triol (PPT, ERα agonist), diarylpropionitrile (DPN, ERβ agonist), and 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium (MPP, ERα antagonist) were compared to E2 in maintaining sexual behavior. Four groups of male rats were castrated and administered DHT s.c. and bilateral MEA implants containing either cholesterol, E2, PPT or DPN. An additional group of gonadally intact male rats received bilateral MPP-MEA implants. The post-surgical trials showed a significant decrease in the mating behavior of groups that received cholesterol, PPT, or DPN-MEA implants. However, sexual behavior was maintained in male rats that received the E2 or MPP-MEA implants. These results suggest a differential response of the MEA to E2.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/1673973
Recommended Citation
Ogaga-Mgbonyebi, Ejiroghene V., "The Effects of Selective Estrogenic Drugs in the Medial Amygdala on Male Rat Sexual Behavior." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2010.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/1673973