{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,21]],"date-time":"2026-06-21T18:48:19Z","timestamp":1782067699262,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,5]],"date-time":"2026-06-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1780617600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/pages\/standard-publication-reuse-rights"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100007605","name":"Aarhus University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100007605","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Initiator Pharma A\/S supported the research"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) is prevalent worldwide; however, current preclinical models often rely on invasive ovariectomy and supra\u2013physiological hormone administration, limiting translational relevance.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Aim<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Our hypothesis is that a non-invasive protocol using a prostaglandin F2\u03b1 analogue (cloprostenol) will effectively synchronise the oestrous cycle of female rats to study its effects on sexual motivation and behaviour, with potential implications for FSD research.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Twelve-week-old intact-untrained female Sprague\u2013Dawley rats received intramuscular-subcutaneously (SQ) injections of cloprostenol at 75, 125, or 250\u00a0\u03bcg\/kg on days 0 and 3, respectively, followed by progesterone (1\u00a0mg\/kg) SQ on day 4. Vaginal cytology confirmed the cycle synchronisation. Sexual motivation was assessed. Plasma\/vaginal hormonal levels (oestradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone\/FSH levels) were measured by enzyme\u2013linked immunosorbent assay\/ELISA. Vaginal oestradiol levels were determined in unsynchronised rats (n\u2009=\u200928). Open-field and forced swim tests evaluated locomotion, anxiety, and depression-like behaviours.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods Outcomes<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Sexual behaviour was assessed using an incentive and encounter profile test. The latter categorised behaviour as paracopulatory\/executive. Open field and forced swim test evaluated locomotion, anxiety, and depression-like behaviours. Plasma hormonal levels (FSH and oestradiol levels) were measured by ELISA; the latter, besides plasma, was also vaginal. All under evaluation of new doses in rodents for their oestrous synchronisation protocol.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>All doses effectively synchronised rats in the proliferative\/transitional phase, with hormonal levels within physiological ranges. Behavioural tests at 125\u00a0\u03bcg\/kg cloprostenol showed increased proceptivity, with females exhibiting greater sexual motivation and interest, whereas higher doses were associated with decreased precopulatory behaviours. Although male rats showed increased interest in females during metoestrus or following treatment with 250\u00a0\u03bcg\/kg cloprostenol. No significant differences were observed in anxiety or depression-like behaviours across the doses or oestrous phases.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Clinical Implications<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>125\u00a0\u03bcg\/kg cloprostenol results could translate to a higher desire in women of reproductive age, and 250\u00a0\u03bcg\/kg cloprostenol translates to women with less desire to copulate\/intercourse, where potential treatment could improve their sexual parameters to help them increase their desire.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Strengths and Limitations<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Most rats synchronised to the proliferative\/transitional phase with 125\/250\u00a0\u03bcg\/kg cloprostenol, supporting its effectiveness. Future studies should consider oestrous cycle phases when evaluating treatments for FSD in rodents and include rats in the dioestrus phase.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The non\u2013invasive cloprostenol protocol reliably synchronised the oestrous cycle and modulates sexual motivation in female rats, providing a physiologically relevant model for investigating FSD. This approach minimises surgical interventions and high hormonal doses, thus enhancing the translational potential of future therapeutics.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1093\/jsxmed\/qdag164","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,8]],"date-time":"2026-05-08T11:49:52Z","timestamp":1778240992000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Impact of a non-invasive oestrous synchronisation protocol on sexual behaviour in Sprague\u2013Dawley rats"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"23","author":[{"given":"Geomar","family":"Seijas-Pedroza","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Aarhus University, Department of Biomedicine\/Pharmacology\/Faculty of Health , 8000 Midtjylland, Aarhus C ,","place":["Denmark"]},{"name":"Universidad Central de Venezuela, Department of Biomedical Sciences\/Anatomy\/Faculty of Veterinary Sciences , Aragua State, Maracay 2101 A 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