INFLUENCE OF THE ANTERODORSAL HIPPOCAMPUS ON FEMININE SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR IN RATS

Bilateral lesions were made in the anterodorsal hippocampal formation of ovariectomized rats. Sham-lesioned and unoperated rats served as controls. The subjects were tested for feminine proceptive and receptive behaviors after priming with varying dosages of estrogen and then retested after progesterone administration. Anterodorsal hippocampal lesions resulted in a decrease in LQ, lordotic intensity, and soliciting behavior in the postprogesterone tests. Active rejection was decreased in preprogesterone tests. Although the anterodorsal hippocampal lesioned females had the capability of eliciting both proceptive and receptive behaviors, the estrogen-progesterone synergistic action of altering the threshold for eliciting these behaviors was reduced. The results are interpreted in terms of hippocampal modulation of spatiotemporal and affective input into diencephalic and midbrain structures controlling sensory-motor integration of feminine sexual behavior. © 1979 Academic Press, Inc.