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Journal of Behavioral and Neuroscience Research 2007, Vol. 5 (NEURON Special Issue), 90 © 2007 The College of Saint Rose POSTER ABSTRACT The Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Pathway may Mediate Progesterone-Facilitated Lordosis in the Midbrain Ventral Tegmental Area J. L. Vanderslice-Barr, A. A. Walf, & C. A. Frye University at Albany-SUNY Progesterone and its metabolite, 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-THP), have actions in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to regulate sexual behavior of female rodents. In the VTA, where intracellular progestin receptors are virtually nonexistent, progestins may have actions via second messenger pathways, such the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. The effects of bilateral infusions to the VTA of the MAPK antagonist, PD98059 (3 ug/ul), for lordosis of estrogen (10 ug)- and progesterone (0, 100, or 250 ug)- primed, ovariectomized rats were investigated. If MAPK in the VTA is required for progesterone-facilitated effects to increase lordosis, then administration of PD98059 to the VTA should attenuate P-facilitated lordosis. Compared to vehicle, PD98059 to the VTA, but not missed sites, attenuated Pfacilitated lordosis, reduced lordosis ratings and proceptivity quotients and increased aggressive quotients of E2– and P-primed rats. Thus, these data suggest that MAPK in the VTA may be important for the effects of progestins to increase sexual receptivity of female rodents. 90