The Role of Estrogen G-Protein Coupled Receptor 30 (GPR30) in Anxiety and Sexual Behavior in Male Rats

Abstract

Estrogen plays an important role in anxiety-like and sexual behavior in male rats. Previous studies suggest that ERβ plays a role in regulating anxiety-like behavior, while ERα has been shown to be important for sexual behavior. However, the role of GPR30 in anxiety-like behavior and sexual behavior in male rats remains to be determined. To test the role of GPR30 on anxiety-like and sexual behavior, half of the male rats were administered a vehicle solution and the other half were administered a GPR30 antagonist, G-15, 24 hours and 30 minutes prior to the start of anxiety testing. Anxiety-like behavior, characterized by time spent in the periphery of the arena compared to the center of the arena, was examined in an open field arena for 5 minutes. Immediately following anxiety testing, male rats were exposed to a sexually receptive female rat for 45 minutes, and sexual behaviors including latencies and frequencies of mounts, intromissions, and ejaculations, as well as social exploration and anogenital investigation were assessed. Results indicate that GPR30 does not play a significant role in anxiety-like behavior, but does seem to impact sexual motivation and plays a significant role in sexual efficiency in male rats.