The nitric oxide pathway participates in estrous behavior induced by progesterone and some of its ring A-reduced metabolites.

Abstract

Intracerebral and intravenous administration of progesterone (P) and its ring A-reduced metabolites induces intense sexual behavior (lordosis and proceptivity) in estrogen-primed rats. The present study tested the hypothesis that the nitric oxide-cGMP-protein kinase G pathway is involved in the facilitation of sexual behavior induced by the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of P (130 ng) and its ring A-reduced metabolites 5alpha-dihydroprogesterone (5alpha-DHP; 13 ng) and 5alpha,3alpha-pregnanolone (5alpha,3alpha-Pgl; 13 ng). In Experiment 1, we tested the relevance of the nitric oxide/cGMP pathway by infusing a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor or a nitric oxide-dependent, soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor icv before progestin administration. The lordosis induced by P, 5alpha-DHP and 5alpha,3alpha-Pgl was significantly reduced at 2 h after progestin infusion by the previous injection of either a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor or by a soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor. Lordosis behavior returned to control values by 4 h. In Experiment 2, i.c.v. infusion of the protein kinase G inhibitor KT5823 significantly inhibited the lordosis behavior induced by all three progestins at 2 h. These data support the hypothesis that the nitric oxide/cGMP/protein kinase G pathway is involved in the lordosis induced by P and some of its ring A-reduced metabolites.

• Authors: Oscar González-Flores, Anne M Etgen
• Journal: Hormones and behavior (Horm Behav) Vol. 45 Issue 1 Pg. 50-7 (Jan 2004) ISSN: 0018-506X [Print] United States
• PMID: 14733891 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Progesterone Congeners
• Nitric Oxide
• Progesterone
• 5-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone
• Pregnanolone
• Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
• Cyclic GMP
• NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester

Topics

• 5-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone (administration & dosage, physiology)
• Animals
• Cyclic GMP (metabolism)
• Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases (metabolism)
• Enzyme Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Estrus (physiology)
• Female
• Injections, Intraventricular
• NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester (pharmacology)
• Nitric Oxide (metabolism)
• Posture
• Pregnanolone (administration & dosage, physiology)
• Progesterone (administration & dosage, physiology)
• Progesterone Congeners (administration & dosage, physiology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Sexual Behavior, Animal (drug effects, physiology)
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)