The effect of the ovarian cycle on the sexual behaviour of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

The sexual behaviour of 7 pairs of marmosets was observed during 30 minute tests for 44-68 days and blood samples were collected from females for measurement of plasma progesterone, testosterone and oestrone. Copulations occurred throughout the ovarian cycle of 24-30 days. Females used a "tongue-flicking" display both as an invitational behaviour (proceptive tongue-flicks) and during copulation (receptive tongue-flicks) most frequently during the peri-ovulatory period. Frequencies of proceptivity were correlated positively with high mean levels of testosterone and oestrone during the cycle and with a short follicular phase. Males showed significant increases in tongue-flicks, mounts and ejaculations during the peri-ovulatory phase, together with a shortened post-ejaculatory interval and increased duration of penile erection after ejaculation. A retrospective analysis showed that these changes in the males' behaviour occurred only during tests where females were proceptive and not during other tests in the peri-ovulatory period. Females refused significantly more of the males' mounting attempts during the luteal phase and a corresponding reduction in mount frequency occurred at this time. Grooming, scent-marking, olfactory inspections and some other behaviours did not alter significantly in either sex during the ovarian cycle.     

超促排卵周期胚胎移植日血清孕酮/雌二醇比值对胚胎着床的影响

目的：探讨超促排印周期胚胎移植日血清孕酮／雌二醇（P／E2）比值对子宫内膜容受性的影响。方法：将96例体外受精-胚胎移植患者按胚胎移植日（ET）血清P／E2比值分为5组,对其实验室结果和临床结局进行比较。结果：5组患者的平均年龄、ET日内膜厚度、受精率、印裂率、可移植胚胎数及移植胚胎数均无差异（P〉0．05）。组1的取卵数最多,妊娠率低;组5的取卵数最少,无1例妊娠。而组3（P／E2为100～150）获得显著高于其他组的妊娠率和单胚种植率（P〈0．05）。结论：恰当的P／E2比值可提高子宫内膜的容受性,在促排卵周期测定ET日的P／E2比值对预测妊娠成功与否有参考作用。     

反复体外受精-胚胎移植失败者母体因素探讨

目的 探讨反复体外受精-胚胎移植失败(RIF)患者可能的母体因素发病机制.方法 对比70例RIF患者和35例孕前体检者,月经第3天血清卵泡刺激素(FSH)、黄体生成素(LH)、子宫体积、卵巢体积、窦卵泡计数(AFC)和排卵期子宫内膜厚度、分型、优势卵泡数量、子宫螺旋动脉的平均搏动指数(PI)和阻力指数(RI).结果 RIF组月经第3天FSH、LH和FSH/ LH数值均明显上升,子宫体积、卵巢体积和AFC数量均显著下降,差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.01);排卵期子宫内膜厚度和优势卵泡数量显著下降,子宫内膜分型A型显著减少,B型和C型明显增加,子宫螺旋动脉PI和RI均明显上升,差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.01).结论 卵巢反应性降低和子宫内膜容受性下降与RIF发生有相关性.     

中医药在改善不同疾病子宫内膜容受性的应用

子宫内膜容受性是影响胚胎种植的重要因素之一,临床上多种疾病均可引起子宫内膜容受性下降,其影响的原因及机制也不同。中医根据不同疾病发病机制不同辨证论治,治疗以中药为主,结合针刺和腔内理疗可有效的调节改善子宫内膜从形态到分子到基因的一系列异常,可有效改善不同疾病的子宫内膜容受性。本文归纳整理了最近几年中医药提高不同疾病不孕患者子宫内膜容受性的方法及机制,并展开简要分析和探究,愿为其治疗提供一定的理论依据。     

经阴道超声评价不孕症患者子宫内膜容受性的研究进展

随着辅助生殖技术的发展,应用体外受精一胚胎移值（IVF-EI）对小孕症患者的诊治取得了很大的进展,胚胎质量和子宫内膜容受性是决定不孕症患着治疗成败的两个关键因素,用于评价子宫内膜的方法很多,如免疫组化法、内膜活检等,而经阴道超声以其简便、无创、可重复性等优点成为不孕症诊治中评估子宫内膜容受性的常规方法。     

Cannabinoid receptor antagonism increases female sexual motivation

The current experiments examined whether treatment with a CB1 antagonist/inverse agonist (AM251) affects sexual motivation, proceptivity, and receptivity in female rats. In experiment #1, 92 Long-Evans rats were tested for their socio-sexual motivation via a runway methodology. Motivation to approach and maintain close proximity to an empty goalbox, a female, and a male target was assessed following hormonal and drug treatment. Hormone treatments were: oil vehicle, 10 μg estradiol, and 10 μg estradiol + 500 μg progesterone. Drug doses were 0, 2, and 4 mg/kg AM251 (IP, 60 min prior to testing). In experiment #2, 32 female subjects were tested for receptivity and proceptivity in a paced mating chamber. Subjects were given either a high (10 μg estradiol + 500 μg progesterone) or low dose of hormones (2 μg estradiol + 250 μg progesterone), and either vehicle or 2 mg/kg AM251. AM251 significantly increased sexual motivation for a male target in the runway in females primed with both estradiol and progesterone. AM251 also enhanced lordosis (in low hormone females) and increased hop-darts. These findings suggest that endocannabinoids tonically inhibit estrous behaviors. Cannabinoid antagonists could serve as new treatment option for women suffering from abnormally low libido.     

Electrolytic lesions to the ventromedial hypothalamus abolish receptivity in female whiptail lizards, Cnemidophorus uniparens

Lesions to the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) inhibit receptive sexual behavior in the whiptail lizard, Cnemidophorus uniparens, an all-female species. All lesions to the VMH that effectively abolished receptivity specifically damaged the dorsal lateral VMH, an area containing high concentrations of estrogen receptor in this species. These data further emphasize conservation of the VMH as a brain area critical to the expression of female sexual behavior in vertebrates.     

Lesions of the mesencephalic central gray depress ultrasound production and lordosis by female hamsters

Lesions of the mesencephalic central gray (SGC) were used to examine the role of this structure in the control of ultrasound production and lordosis by female hamsters. Rates of ultrasound production by ovariectomized, hormone-primed, females were observed in separate tests with stimulus ultrasounds and males. The postoperative ultrasound rates of females with SGC lesions were compared with preoperative rates for the same females and with postoperative call rates of females with sham lesions. SGC lesions consistently caused decreases in rates of ultrasound production. These changes were most pronounced in tests with stimulus males, and in females with extensive damage to the caudal SGC. The females also were tested for lordosis using manual stimulation and stud males. The incidence of lordosis decreased significantly following SGC lesions, though some lesioned females continued to show lordosis of normal latency and duration. These results suggest that the SGC may help to integrate ultrasound production with other hormone-dependent reproductive behaviors.     

Onset of sexual maturation in female mice as measured in behavior and fertility: Interactions of exposure to males, phytoestrogen content of diet, and ano-genital distance

Age of puberty was examined in female mice through non-invasive behavioral and fertility measures, in relationship to ano-genital distance, phytoestrogen content of diet, and exposure to males post-weaning. Throughout gestation and post-natal development, females were exposed to a regular diet or one that was nutritionally similar but deficient in phytoestrogens. After segregation at weaning on the basis of a short or long ano-genital distance index (AGDI), an indirect measure of in utero androgen exposure, females were housed alone or underneath two outbred adult males for two weeks. Subsequently, an outbred male was placed in the cage of each developing female, and mating behavior, escape attempts, biting gestures, and boxing postures were recorded. Next, females were monitored for the occurrence of a copulatory plug and allowed to bear young, with pregnancy and litters monitored up to weaning. Male-exposed females fed a regular diet were immediately sexually receptive when housed directly with males, and their conceptions occurred earlier than did those of other females. Subjects fed a diet deficient in phytoestrogens were least likely to show sexual receptivity. Male-exposed females with longer AGDI displayed more escape attempts in the presence of males, regardless of diet. Once inseminated, most females carried to term and the majority of pups survived until weaning. These data suggest that phytoestrogens and AGDI interact with exposure to males in determining age at onset of puberty.     

Characterization of copulatory behavior in female mice: evidence for paced mating

In this study we characterized female mouse sexual behavior using a pacing paradigm similar to that used to evaluate sexual behavior in female rats. A pacing chamber was designed for use with mice and we compared the sexual behavior of female mice that were tested in both pacing and nonpacing paradigms and under different hormone conditions. We found that, like rats, female mice do pace their copulatory behavior by altering the temporal sequence of copulatory events. Female mice take longer to return to the male after an ejaculation, compared to either a mount or intromission. However, it is still unclear if female-paced mating serves the same functions as it does in female rats. More work is needed to confirm that paced mating induces hormonal changes needed for pregnancy as is the case in rats.