Abstract
In female rats, the first sexual experience under paced mating conditions increases the number of newborn cells that migrate into the granular layer of the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). Repeated paced mating has a potentiating effect on the number of new neurons that migrate to the AOB compared with a single session 15 days after paced mating. On the other hand, one paced mating session does no increases the survival of new cells 45 days after mating. In the present study, we evaluated if four paced mating sessions could increase the survival of new neurons in the AOB and main olfactory bulb (MOB) 45 days after females mated. Sexually naive female rats were ovariectomized, hormonally supplemented and randomly assigned to one of five groups: (1) Control, no sexual contact (C); (2) Four sessions in which females were exposed, without mating, to a sexually experience male rat (SE); (3) One session of paced mating (PM1); (4) Four sessions of paced mating (PM4); and (5) Four sessions of non-paced mating (NPM4). In the first behavioral test, females received the DNA synthesis marker 5-bromo-2′deoxyuridine and were euthanized 45 days later. Our data showed that the number of new cells that survived in the mitral cell layer of the AOB decreased when females were exposed to a sexually active male, in comparison to females that mated once pacing the sexual interaction. Repeated sexual behavior in pacing conditions did not increase the survival of new cells in other layers of the MOB and AOB. However, a significant increase in the percentage of new neurons in the granular and glomerular layers of the AOB and granular layer of the MOB was observed in females that mated in four sessions pacing the sexual interaction. In the group that paced the sexual interaction for one session, a significant increase in the percentage of neurons was observed in the glomerular layer of the AOB. Our data suggest that repeated paced mating increases the percentage of new neurons that survive in the olfactory bulb of female rats.
Highlights
Mating is a rewarding behavior that induces physiological and plastic changes
Female rats that mated one or four times pacing the sexual interaction showed a higher percentage of new cells that migrate in the granular cell layer of the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB)
Only females that mated in pacing conditions in four sessions showed more new cells in the mitral cell layer of the AOB and granular layer of the main olfactory bulb (MOB)
Summary
Mating is a rewarding behavior that induces physiological and plastic changes. Female rats in natural, semi-natural and laboratory conditions can pace the sexual interaction, controlling the frequency and intensity of the sexual stimulation they receive (McClintock and Adler, 1978; Erskine, 1989). The first paced mating experience increases the percentage of new cells that survive and differentiate into mature neurons in the Gr layer of the AOB (Corona et al, 2016). Female rats that mate once a week for 4 weeks, pacing the sexual interaction, show an increase in the number of new cells and new mature neurons in the Gr layer of the AOB and MOB (16 days after their first sexual encounter) in comparison to females that mate four times under non-pacing conditions and females that mate once under pacing conditions (Arzate et al, 2013). We evaluated if four sexual behavior tests before the critical time for cell survival (16 days) increases the number of new cells and neurons that integrate into the OB in female rats 45 days later
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