Sexual dysfunction, including disorders of sexual desire, arousal, orgasm and sexual pain, affects approximately 40% of American women, often with significant consequences on quality of life. Despite the prevalence, the causes of female sexual dysfunction remain poorly understood, and treatments are accordingly limited. Animal models of female sexual function have focused on the mechanics of sexual interaction, e.g., the lordosis reflex, limiting the generalizability of such findings for the understanding of sexual dysfunction in women. The goal of the proposed research is to take advantage of the tractability afforded by animal models, but to extend our analysis to include an integrated assessment of female sexual arousal and nociception; facets of sexual functioning that are applicable to women. Studies in Aim 1 will test the role of the medial preoptic area (mPOA) in sexual arousal in anesthetized female rats. In addition, the effects of inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) on female sexual functioning will be tested.
In Aim 2, the role of peripheral estrogen receptors in vaginal nociception will be tested. The results garnered from these studies will address gaps in knowledge of the physiology of female sexual function that may improve the ability to diagnose and to treat sexual dysfunction in women. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21HD050726-01A2
Application #
7197079
Study Section
Neuroendocrinology, Neuroimmunology, and Behavior Study Section (NNB)
Program Officer
Lamar, Charisee A
Project Start
2007-04-14
Project End
2009-03-31
Budget Start
2007-04-14
Budget End
2008-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$221,880
Indirect Cost
Name
Dartmouth College
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
041027822
City
Hanover
State
NH
Country
United States
Zip Code
03755
Meerts, Sarah H; Guarraci, Fay A; Clark, Ann S (2012) An intact medial preoptic area is necessary for zaprinast to modulate paced mating behavior in female rats. Physiol Behav 105:264-8
Clark, Ann S; Robinson, Siobhan; Meerts, Sarah H et al. (2011) Genitosensory nerve modulation of paced mating behavior: evidence for pelvic, but not hypogastric, nerve influence. Behav Neurosci 125:668-73
Clark, Ann S; Robinson, Siobhan; Boisvert, Eilish et al. (2011) The display of paced mating behavior in a rat model of endometriosis. Physiol Behav 104:722-7
Meerts, Sarah H; Boisvert, Eilish M; Spjut, Kersti A et al. (2010) Paced mating behavior persists in rats with vaginocervical Lidocaine. Physiol Behav 99:139-41
Clark, Ann S; Meerts, Sarah H; Guarraci, Fay A (2009) Zaprinast, a phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor, alters paced mating behavior in female rats. Physiol Behav 96:289-93
Meerts, Sarah H; Clark, Ann S (2009) Conditioned place preference for mating is preserved in rats with pelvic nerve transection. Behav Neurosci 123:539-46
Meerts, Sarah H; Clark, Ann S (2009) Lesions of the medial preoptic area interfere with the display of a conditioned place preference for vaginocervical stimulation in rats. Behav Neurosci 123:752-7
Meerts, Sarah H; Clark, Ann S (2009) Artificial vaginocervical stimulation induces a conditioned place preference in female rats. Horm Behav 55:128-32