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Abstract
The effects of olfactory bulb removal (OBX) and chronic psychosocial stress on serum
glucocorticoids and sexual behavior were assessed in female rats primed with a subthreshold
level of estradiol (E2). Ovariectomized females underwent either OBX or sham surgery.
Half of the OBX and half of the sham animals were exposed to chronic psychosocial
stress (crowding, strobe light, and intermittent noise) for one-half h per day for
27 days. On day 22, three blood samples were collected from each animal for serum
corticosterone analysis; 1) before, 2) during, and 3) after acute stress (one-half
h restraint). On day 28, females were exposed to either 4 or 24 h of E2. On day 29,
all females received 500 micrograms progesterone (P) 4 h prior to sexual behavior
testing. Sexual receptivity was measured using the lordosis quotient (LQ = [number
of lordotic responses/10 mounts] x 100). Sexual proceptivity (dart and ear wiggling
sequences) and rejection (number of nonlordotic responses to mount attempts) were
measured throughout a 10-min test period. Results showed that chronic psychosocial
stress dramatically increased sexual receptivity and proceptivity while decreasing
sexual rejection in female rats primed with a subthreshold level of E2. Chronic psychosocial
stress also elevated serum glucocorticoids and significantly exacerbated the glucocorticoid
response to acute stress. OBX, while increasing sexual receptivity and decreasing
sexual rejection, had no effect on serum glucocorticoids. These findings support the
hypothesis that OBX potentiates female sexual behavior directly through an increase
in neural sensitivity to E2. In contrast, the enhancing effect of chronic psychosocial
stress on female sexual behavior may result from alterations of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal
system.