PROGESTERONE-FACILITATED SEXUAL RECEPTIVITY - A REVIEW OF ARGUMENTS SUPPORTING A NONGENOMIC MECHANISM

Progesterone facilitates sexual receptivity in estradiol-primed female rats. While many experiments suggest a genomic mechanism for the behavioral action of progesterone, some results appear better explained by nongenomic mechanisms. Furthermore, the presence of membrane binding sites for progesterone and rapid modifications of neuronal excitability induced by this steroid suggest that a nongenomic action of progesterone could be membrane related. However, in spite of the discovery of such membrane-related actions of progesterone, their relation to progesterone-facilitated sexual behavior remains unclear.