Effects of mounts without intromission upon the behavior of female rats during the onset of estrogen-induced heat

The effects of pre-test mounting upon subsequent behavior of female rats was investigated using 40 ovariectomized females brought into heat with exogenous hormones. Half of the females were primed with 50 mounts by the males, and pairs of primed and non-primed females were tested to a 10-mount criterion. Intromission was prevented by vaginal masks. Pre-test mounting of non-receptive females decreased their subsequent rejection of the males. But rather than having a priming effect upon sexual receptivity, mounts without intromission decreased the probability and intensity of subsequent lordosis.