The role of melanocortin receptors in sexual behavior in female rats

CRAGNOLINI AB; SCIMONELLI TN; CELIS ME; SCHIÖTH HB

CHURCHILL LIVINGSTONE

Lugar: ESCOCIA; Año: 2000 p. 211 - 211

nbsp;Earlier data have indicated that a-MSH may play a role for sexual behavior in rats. In this study we investigated the effects of MSH peptides on sexual receptivity in ovariectomized-adrenalectomized female rats, pretreated with benzoate of estradiol, in presence of vigorous male rats. The results show that a-MSH significantly increases lordosis behavior in female rats after injections into the ventromedial nucleus. Interestingly, we have for the first time shown that g-MSH also causes significant increase in lordosis in female rats. Furthermore, we show that HS014, an antagonist for the central MC receptors, in dose dependent manner blocks the effect of a-MSH on lordosis. The results indicate that the effects of MSH peptides on female sexual behaviour are mediated through a specific MC receptor, which could be the MC3 receptor. © 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd