Editing Lordosis behavior (section)

== Hormonal and cerebral regulation ==
Sexual behaviour is optimized for reproduction, and the [[hypothalamus]] is the key brain area which regulates and coordinates the physiological and behavioural aspects of reproduction.<ref name="Plant">Plant T., Zeleznik A. (Eds). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=I1ACBAAAQBAJ Knobil and Neill's Physiology of Reproduction]''. Academic Press, 4th edition, 2015</ref> Most of the time, the [[ventromedial nucleus]] of the hypothalamus (VMN) inhibits lordosis. But when environmental conditions are favorable and the female is in estrus, the [[estrogen]] [[hormone]], [[estradiol]], induces [[sexual receptivity]] by the [[neuron]]s in the [[ventromedial nucleus]],<ref name="pmid9638959">{{cite journal |vauthors=Kow LM, Pfaff DW |title=Mapping of neural and signal transduction pathways for lordosis in the search for estrogen actions on the central nervous system |journal=Behav. Brain Res. |volume=92 |issue=2 |pages=169–180 |date=May 1998 |pmid=9638959 |doi=10.1016/S0166-4328(97)00189-7|s2cid=28276218 }}</ref> the [[periaqueductal gray]], and other areas of the [[brain]]. The ventromedial hypothalamus sends impulses down [[axon]]s synapsing with neurons in the periaqueductal gray. These convey an impulse to neurons in the medullary [[reticular formation]] which project down the [[reticulospinal tract]] and synapse with the neurobiological circuits of the lordosis reflex in the [[spinal cord]] (L1–L6). These neurobiological processes induced by estradiol enable the tactile stimuli to trigger lordosis.

The mechanisms of regulation of this [[Estrogen-dependent condition|estrogen-dependent]] lordosis reflex have been identified through different types of [[experiment]]s. When the VMN is lesioned lordosis is abolished; this suggests the importance of this cerebral structure in the regulation of lordosis. Concerning hormones, displays of lordosis can be affected by ovariectomy, injections of estradiol benzoate and progesterone,<ref>{{cite journal|title=Development of steroid-induced lordosis in female guinea pigs: effects of different estradiol and progesterone treatments, clonidine, and early weaning.|author1=Olster, D.H. |author2=Blaustein, J.D.|journal=Hormones and Behavior |year=1989|volume=23|issue=1|pages=118–129|pmid=2538389|doi=10.1016/0018-506x(89)90079-2|s2cid=26078948 }}</ref> or exposure to [[Stress (biology)|stress]] during puberty.<ref name="auto">{{cite journal|author1=Jasmina Kercmar |author2=Stuart Tobet |author3=Gregor Majdic |title=Social Isolation during Puberty Affects Female Sexual Behavior in Mice  |journal=Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience|year=2014 |doi=10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00337 |pmid=25324747 |volume=8 |pages=337 |pmc=4179611|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author1=D. Daniels |author2=LM. Flanagan-Cato |title=Social Isolation during Puberty Affects Female Sexual Behavior in Mice |journal=Journal of Neurobiology|year=2000|pmid=10992252|volume=45|issue=1 |pages=1–13|doi=10.1002/1097-4695(200010)45:1<1::AID-NEU1>3.0.CO;2-W }}</ref> Specifically, stress can suppress the [[Hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis|hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis]] and therefore decrease concentrations of gonadal hormones. Consequently, these reductions in exposure to gonadal hormones around puberty can result in decreases in sexual behavior in adulthood, including displays of lordosis.<ref name="auto" />