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Physiol Behav

Title:		Chemical studies of hamster vaginal discharge: effects of endocrine ablation and protein digestion on behaviorally active macromolecular fractions
Author(s):		Singer AG; Clancy AN; Macrides F; Agosta WC;
Address:
Journal Title:		Physiol Behav
Year:		1984
Volume:		33
Issue:		4
Page Number:		639 - 643
DOI:		10.1016/0031-9384(84)90384-6
ISSN/ISBN:		0031-9384 (Print) 0031-9384 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Our previous studies have demonstrated that macromolecular fractions of hamster vaginal discharge elicit intense genital investigation and facilitate copulatory behavior toward anesthetized males (female surrogates) whose hindquarters have been scented with these fractions, and that the aphrodisiac activity is significantly reduced in the vaginal discharge of ovariectomized (OVEX) or hypophysectomized (HYPOX) females. The present series of studies compared the protein compositions of estrous, diestrous, OVEX, and HYPOX vaginal discharge, and assessed whether protein digestion of estrous vaginal discharge affects its aphrodisiac activity. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of vaginal lavages showed that the endocrine status of females has a profound effect on the protein composition of the vaginal discharge. The concentration of the major proteins dropped by about ten-fold in going from the estrous to the diestrous condition. The concentration of these same proteins appear to be at least another order of magnitude lower in the vaginal discharges of OVEX and HYPOX females. These major proteins had molecular weights greater than 10,000 Daltons. A macromolecular fraction of estrous vaginal discharge isolated by gel filtration at elevated temperature (conditions known to separate some protein-bound steroids) and containing proteins of molecular weight greater than 10,000 Daltons was found to be modestly but significantly less active than estrous discharge in its ability to elicit intense genital investigation, and not significantly different from estrous discharge in its ability to facilitate overt copulatory behavior toward scented surrogates. Pronase digestion of the proteins in this fraction did not alter its effects on investigatory behavior toward scented surrogates but significantly reduced its ability to facilitate copulatory behavior.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)"
Keywords:		"Animals Castration Chromatography, Gel Cricetinae Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel Estrus Female Hypophysectomy Male Mesocricetus Pheromones/*analysis Pregnancy Proteins/*analysis Sex Attractants/*analysis Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology Vagina/*ana;"
Notes:		"MedlineSinger, A G Clancy, A N Macrides, F Agosta, W C eng MH 08645/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ NS 12344/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/ Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 1984/10/01 Physiol Behav. 1984 Oct; 33(4):639-43. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(84)90384-6"