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Does Chronic Hyperglycemia Affect Female Rat Sexual Behavior? Differences in Paced and Non-Paced Mating
Abigail K Hernández-Munive1, Daniela Rebolledo-Solleiro2, Alonso Fernández-Guasti1
1Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Coapa, México City, México.
The Journal of Sexual Medicine
|July 7, 2019
Summary
Chronic hyperglycemia in female rats, a model for type 2 diabetes, negatively impacts sexual behavior, particularly proceptivity and receptivity, but not pacing. These findings suggest mild hyperglycemia may cause subtle sexual dysfunction in women.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive endocrinology
- Neuroendocrinology
- Behavioral neuroscience
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus is linked to sexual dysfunction, but its effect on female sexual behavior is debated.
- Previous studies in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) models did not find reduced receptivity in non-paced mating (NPM).
- Appetitive aspects of female sexual behavior, such as in paced mating (PM), remain unevaluated in DM2 models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) on all facets of female sexual behavior.
- To assess female sexual behavior in both non-paced mating (NPM) and paced mating (PM) paradigms.
- To utilize a rat model of DM2 in both ovariectomized (OVX) and intact (non-OVX) females.
Main Methods:
- Neonatal streptozotocin (STZ) administration induced hyperglycemia in female rats.
- Ovariectomy (OVX) was performed at week 10, with hormonal replacement in OVX females and estrous cycle monitoring in non-OVX females.
- Sexual behavior was assessed at week 12 using NPM and PM paradigms, measuring receptivity, proceptivity, and aggression.
Main Results:
- STZ-treated rats exhibited glucose intolerance and hyperglycemia.
- Non-paced mating (NPM) revealed decreased lordosis quotient/intensity and increased aggression in STZ-OVX females, and reduced proceptivity in STZ-non-OVX females.
- Paced mating (PM) showed no significant changes in receptivity or proceptivity, but STZ-treated females (both OVX and non-OVX) failed to exhibit pacing behavior.
Conclusions:
- Chronic mild hyperglycemia, characteristic of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), induces subtle alterations in female sexual behavior.
- The effects of hyperglycemia on sexual behavior are dependent on the mating paradigm (NPM vs. PM) and hormonal status (OVX vs. non-OVX).
- Impaired pacing behavior in STZ-treated rats suggests a specific impact on motivational or consummatory aspects of sexual behavior.
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