Figure 5. PR+ VMHvl neurons regulate female sexual receptivity.

(A) Experimental design to test the role of PR+ VMHvl neurons in female behaviors. Mating was tested with ovariectomized females primed to be in estrus. Other behaviors were tested with gonadally-intact females.

(B–J) PR^Cre and control females were injected with AAV-flex-taCasp3-TEVp and tested for sexual behavior with WT males.

(B) PR^Cre females spend more time rejecting male mating attempts, walking away when the male approaches.

(C–E) PR^Cre females display lower receptivity index (mounts leading to intromission/total mounts) and reduced number and duration of lordosis events.

(F) PR^Cre females spend more time moving about and being unreceptive during intromission.

(G) Fewer than 20% of PR+ neurons remain in the VMHvl of PR^Cre females, who reject male mating attempts more than control females.

(H) Males sniff and initiate mating equivalently with PR^Cre and WT females but ejaculate in fewer assays with PR^Cre females.

(I) Males mount PR^Cre females more but without a corresponding increase in intromission.

(J) Males mount PR^Cre females longer, but intromit for shorter duration.

(K, L) Ablation of PR+ VMHvl neurons in PR^Cre females results in loss of Cckar expression.

Mean ± SEM; n ≥ 10/experimental group (B–J); n = 3 (K, L); *p < 0.02, ** p < 0.005. Scale bar = 50 µm.

See also Figure S5, Table S3, Movies S1, S2.