Gd. Fernandezfewell et M. Meredith, FACILITATION OF MATING-BEHAVIOR IN MALE HAMSTERS BY LHRH AND ACLHRH(5-10) - INTERACTION WITH THE VOMERONASAL SYSTEM, Physiology & behavior, 57(2), 1995, pp. 213-221
An intact vomeronasal organ is important for the reproductive physiolo
gy and behavior of many species. Vomeronasal sensory input is known to
influence hormone levels especially LH, presumably by prior modulatio
n of LHRH. LHRH has been shown independently to facilitate mating beha
vior in rodents of both sexes. In this study intracerebroventricular L
HRH at a dose of 50 ng substantially relieved mating behavior deficits
caused by prepubertal removal of vomeronasal organs from inexperience
d male hamsters. Intranasal LHRH at a higher dose did not have this ef
fect. Behavioral responses were recorded 30 mins after peptide or sali
ne injection. The LHRH analog, AcLHRH(5-10) which we demonstrate does
not induce LH release, did facilitate mating behavior in these tests,
suggesting that LHRH peptides may facilitate male mating behavior via
an extra-pituitary mode of action.