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Estradiol, and Not Increased Calorie Intake, Determines Sexual Behavior in Female Common Marmosets Karli R. Hochstatter¹, Amber K. Edwards¹, David H. Abbott¹˒² ¹Wisconsin National Primate Research Center ²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI. Introduction There is strong evidence of the importance of the hypothalamus in controlling sexual behavior The hypothalamus has an array of estrogen receptors Female receptivity (sexual acceptance) is estrogen- dependent Low levels of circulating estradiol in women are correlated with diminished sexual behavior and increased risks of obesity Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) serve as well established models of the female reproductive system Objective Methods Confirm that estradiol treatment of female marmosets improves sexual interactions with their male pair-mates 2-5 months following ovariectomy (OVX) Examine whether estradiol treatments prevent the development of diet-induced obesity, and accordingly, if the obesity affects sexual behaviors in female marmosets 2-5 months following OVX 15 adult female common marmosets ranging from 2-6 years of age Each female is pair-housed with a testis-intact adult male Bilaterally OVX and placed into the following groups: Control Empty Silastic capsules, High Calorie Diet (n=4) Control Empty Silastic capsules, Normal Calorie Diet (n=4) Estradiol-filled capsules, High Calorie Diet (n=4) Estradiol-filled capsules, Normal Calorie Diet (n=3) Sexual and affiliative behavior of each pair observed at: 2 months after OVX 5 months after OVX Behavioral Testing: Each study female was placed in a test cage out of sight of her male pair-mate. After 90 minutes, the male pair-mate was introduced into the test cage from a side cage via a remote door. Behaviors were scored for 15 minutes from within a blind behind a one-way screen. Each female received 2 behavioral tests, one week apart, at both 2 and 5 months after OVX Results 5 months post-OVX, male mounts correlate with: Female sexual receptivity in estradiol-treated females only (diets combined) (p<0.007) Female sexual rejection in control females only (diets combined) (p<1.8 x 10 -5 ) Estradiol tends to enhance female total sexual receptivity at 5 months following OVX (p < 0.07 vs. controls (diets combined) at 5 months post OVX) 5 months post-OVX, frequency of female sexual receptive behavior positively correlates with necropsy uterine weight at 6 months post-OVX (all females combined) Estradiol and high calorie diet treatment of females do not alter frequency of male mounts/attempted mounts Estradiol, but not high calorie diet, increases female marmoset sexual receptivity (mount acceptance) Behaviors indicative of female anxiety (scratches and long calls, all females combined) are exclusionary to females accepting mounts at both 2 and 5 months post OVX P < 0.007 p<0.07 vs. controls (diets combined) at 5 months post OVX Conclusion Sexual behavior between highly compatible, well- established pairs of marmosets can be increased when females have high levels of estradiol (specifically, females are more willing to copulate with their male mate) Anxiety reduces sexual behavior High calorie diet does not diminish female marmoset sexual behavior % Mounts Accepted Time Following OVX (months) Control (empty) capsules Estradiol-filled capsules P-Value 218% (5/28)56% (5/9)p < 0.05 59% (3/34)77% (13/17)p < 3 x 10 -6 Time Following OVX (months) Normal Calorie DietHigh Calorie DietP-Value 236% (4/11)23% (6/26)NS 529% (4/14)32% (12/37)NS NS: non-significant, P-Value > 0.05
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