REVERSAL OF PROGESTERONE INHIBITION OF SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR IN OVARIECTOMIZED RATS BY HIGH-DOSES OF PROGESTERONE

Considerably less progesterone was needed to facilitate than was required to inhibit sexual receptivity induced by oestradiol benzoate (OB) and progesterone in the ovariectomized rat. Inhibition of sexual receptivity occurred if progesterone was given at the time of OB treatment (concurrent inhibition). If progesterone was given 42 h after the OB treatment it first acted to facilitate the behavior and then to inhibit the response to renewed progesterone treatment 24 h later (sequential inhibition). Both concurrent and sequential inhibition of sexual receptivity by progesterone could be reversed by increasing the dose of progesterone before behavioral testing. Sexual receptivity could be induced in the pseudopregnant rat by using a low dose of OB (2μg) in combination with a very high dose of progesterone (50 mg). Sexual receptivity induced in ovariectomized rats by injection of a single large dose of OB was unaffected by progesterone treatment in both the concurrent and sequential paradigm. Concurrent and sequential inhibition of sexual behaviour by antioestrogen (nitromophene monocitrate, CI-628) treatment could not be reversed by increasing the dose of progesterone before testing. The behavioural response to OB treatment in combination with progesterone and OB treatment alone was markedly inhibited by CI-628 treatment. It is suggested that prior treatment with progesterone raises the threshold of the behavioural response to subsequent progesterone treatment. It is also suggested that the inhibitory effect of progesterone on sexual behaviour cannot only be accounted for by the previously suggested antioestrogenic effect of progesterone.