This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Studies continued during the current funding period to better define how selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulators affect estrogen action on behavior. Studies in rhesus monkeys show that specific ER? agonists show estrogen like effects in increasing circulating levels of oxytocin and inhibiting the release of LH whereas the ER agonist only increased serum prolactin but did not affect oxytocin or LH. Neither the ER? or agonists affected female sexual motivation whereas both agonists increase social affiliative behavior similar to the effects of estradiol. These data suggest that activation of both ER subtypes is necessary for the induction of complex female sexually motivated behaviors, data that have implications for female hormone therapy. Studies using Long Evans rats indicate that ingestion of soy isoflavones reduce sexually motivated behaviors in females by blocking the action of estradiol, a finding similar to the effects of tamoxifen. In contrast, soy isoflavones reduce anxiety-like behavior in females similar to that of estradiol. Finally, studies with Long Evans females also shows that medroxyprogesterone acetate, a commonly prescribe progestin, disrupts the induction of female sexual behavior possibly by increasing the inhibitory activity of the neurotransmitter, GABA in the
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