Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid concentrations in gingival crevicular fluid

The beta-lactams are bactericidal antibiotics, but some of them may be inactivated by bacterial beta-lactamases which destroy the beta-lactam ring. The inactivation of amoxicillin by beta-lactamases of gram negative anaerobic bacteria can be circumvented by the addition of clavulanic acid, a beta-lactamases inhibitor. Thus, most of these bacteria are susceptible to this combination. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). These concentrations were measured in 20 patients with rapidly progressive periodontitis 1 h after a dose of 500 mg (1 tablet Augmentin) on day 0 and 1 h after the 10th intake on day 3. For the sampling of GCF, Periopapers were introduced in 16 gingival sites per subject and time. The GCF volumes collected were estimated using the Periotron 6000. A high performance liquid chromatography method has been developed for the determination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in microsamples (1 to 10 microliters) of GCF. The concentrations of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid were respectively, 14.05 micrograms ml-1 and 0.40 microgram ml-1 at day 0, 13.93 micrograms ml-1 and 0.37 microgram ml-1 at day 3. Effective levels of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, well above the minimal inhibitory concentrations of some susceptible periodontal anaerobes (P. intermedia) involved in destructive periodontal diseases, are achieved following the multiple administration of amoxicillin combined with clavulanic acid.     

IL-1 in gingival crevicular fluid following closed root planing and papillary flap debridement

Interleukin (IL)-1 alpha and beta are cytokines which can mediate inflammatory, bone resorbing, and reparative effects in the periodontium, but few longitudinal data exist exploring their role following periodontal therapy. This study examined gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) concentrations of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta at sites with shallow sulci (SS) or inflamed moderate/advanced pockets (M/AP) before and 6 months after treatment with closed scaling/root planing (SC/RP) or papillary flap debridement (PFD), all in the same subject (n = 14 patients). No significant differences were noted in IL-1 alpha or beta concentrations (determined with two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays) between SS and M/AP sites at baseline. While both therapies improved clinical parameters of periodontal disease, IL-1 alpha concentration increased significantly (p < 0.05) in M/AP-PFD sites 6 months after treatment, but were unchanged in other groups. IL-1 beta concentrations were numerically lower after therapy, except for a significant increase (p < 0.05) in M/AP-PFD sites. These data suggest that surgical wound healing in an inflamed, plaque-infected site (M/AP-PFD) results in prolonged production of IL-1, which may be a reflection of the extent of tissue trauma and delayed wound healing. In spite of increased IL-1 levels, these sites demonstrated significant short-term improvement in clinical attachment level (+ 1.8 mm, p < or = 0.001) postoperatively.     

镍铬烤瓷冠修复后牙龈及龈沟液中镍和铬含量的变化

目的:探讨镍铬烤瓷冠修复后牙龈组织和龈沟液中镍和铬含量的变化,为修复材料的选择提供参考.方法:选择镍铬烤瓷修复后牙龈增生并需行牙龈修整术者作为实验组,需要拔除第三磨牙且口内无任何修复体者为对照组,使用Whatman 3号滤纸汲取龈沟液并切取牙龈,运用电感耦合等离子体质谱法测量牙龈组织及龈沟液中镍和铬的含量.结果:实验组牙龈组织和龈沟液中的镍和铬含量均高于对照组,两组龈沟液中的铬含量比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),两组牙龈组织及龈沟液中的镍含量比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论:镍铬烤瓷冠修复后的镍和铬离子在牙龈组织及龈沟液中沉积,对牙龈组织有影响.     

Calprotectin, a leukocyte protein related to inflammation, in gingival crevicular fluid

Neurological examination of a sheep that had acute onset of recumbency and mental depression indicated a diffuse symmetrical thalamocortical lesion. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis suggested a degenerative central nervous system disease. Thiamin administration resulted in partial and temporary improvement. Brain histological lesions were typical of focal symmetrical encephalomalacia.     

The relation of microbiologic data to aspartate aminotransferase enzyme activity in gingival crevicular fluid

Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), reflects the immune and inflammatory reactions and is itself a location for specific host-microbe interactions that lead to periodontal diseases. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is one of the components of GCF that is released as a result of cell death. In this study, 40 periodontal sites in 10 early onset periodontitis patients before and after nonsurgical periodontal therapy, with and without local metronidazole administration, were first examined for the AST enzyme levels in GCF and then evaluated for microbiological and clinical variables. In each patient, 4 sites (one site/quadrant) with a probing depth of > or = 5 mm were selected and treated with separate treatment protocols. Certain microbial species including Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans(A. a.) were found more often and/or in higher levels in AST active sites (36/40 first measurement--9/36 second measurement), while other species (Streptococcus and Actinomyces) were found more often and/or in higher levels in AST inactive sites (4/40 first measurement--8/36 second measurement). Eight post-treatment AST active sites revealed 1.5 mm of attachment loss, whereas 8 post-treatment AST inactive sites showed 1.37 mm of attachment gain. AST activity and microbiological-clinical data presenting such an agreement suggests that, AST level assessment would be beneficial as an adjunctive method alongside other clinical criteria, in guiding the clinician in periodontal treatment.     

Collagen I carboxyterminal propeptide in human gingival crevicular fluid before and after periodontal treatment

The amount of procollagen I carboxyterminal propeptide (PICP) in crevicular fluid (CF) was measured in three periodontitis patients. Samples were collected from 29 sites before treatment (scaling, root planing, and curettage) and 2, 5, 10, 20, and 40 days after treatment, by placing two paper strips in periodontal pockets for 5 s. The amount of fluid in strips was measured by the Periotron device. Control samples were collected from subjects with minimal gingival inflammation. PICP was extracted into saline solution and determined by a radioimmunologic method. Plaque index, papilla bleeding index, and pocket depth were recorded before and 40 days after treatment. The CF PICP mean concentration was 4.2 mg/l in the pretreatment samples. Five days after treatment a statistically significant increase in PICP concentration was seen in all subjects. The peak appeared on days 5 or 10 in 27 sites. The mean peak PICP concentrations of the subjects were 5-10 times higher than the pretreatment values. Twenty days after treatment, mean PICP concentration decreased to pretreatment level. PICP concentrations did not correlate with the clinical parameters. In control samples PICP amounts were below the detection limit. CF PICP is a new marker of type I collagen metabolism in periodontal tissues. It was concluded that elevated PICP concentrations in CF after periodontal treatment reflected increased type I collagen synthesis in periodontal tissues and that the peak in type I collagen synthesis takes place 5-10 days after treatment.     

Effect of a chlorhexidine/thymol-containing varnish on prostaglandin E2 levels in gingival crevicular fluid

The aim was to study the effect of a chlorhexidine/thymol-containing varnish (Cervitec) on the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). The material consisted of 25 adolescents and young adults with fixed orthodontic appliances exhibiting gingival inflammation. Four buccal sites, adjacent to bands and brackets, were selected on each patient and randomly treated with either a varnish containing chlorhexidine diacetate (1% w/w) and thymol (1% w/w) or a placebo varnish without active ingredients. After baseline registration, the varnishes were applied twice within 3 d. Follow-up examinations were performed after 3, 8 and 30 d. The gingival inflammation was assessed by bleeding on probing, volume of GCF with a Periotron 8000 and PGE2 level in GCF by using a radioimmuno assay. Compared with baseline, a statistically significant reduction in the volume of GCF was recorded at the chlorhexidine/thymol treated sites in contrast to the placebo. The mean PGE2 levels were significantly reduced after the test varnish treatment compared with baseline and differed significantly from placebo after 8 d. The findings suggest that treatments with the antibacterial varnish result in reduced gingival inflammation and may thus be beneficial for patients with fixed orthodontic appliances.     

ICAM-1-expressing pocket epithelium, LFA-1-expressing T cells in gingival tissue and gingival crevicular fluid as features characterizing inflammatory cell invasion and exudation in adult periodontitis

Activated T lymphocytes constitute a major component of inflammatory cells in the early periodontal lesion, and also appear in the gingival crevicular fluid. In an attempt to clarify the relationship between the ICAM-1 (CD54) expression of pocket epithelium in gingiva and the infiltrating lymphocyte population, we carried out an analysis of CD11a+(LFA-1 alpha), CD25+(IL-2R alpha) and CD4+(Th) cells subjacent to ICAM-1-expressing pocket epithelia and CD11a+CD25+CD4+ cells in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). GCF was collected by crevicular washing from 16 patients with periodontitis (P group) and 3 subjects with healthy gingiva (H group). Peripheral blood (PB) was collected at the same time. Mononuclear cells were isolated by Ficoll-paque gradient centrifugation from GCF and PB. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to CD11a, CD25, and CD4 were used for three-color flow cytometry. Gingival biopsies were obtained from 7 patients in P group and 3 subjects in H group. Serial cryostat sections (6 microns in thickness) were prepared from each biopsy, on which a double staining was performed. The number of CD11a+CD25+CD4+ cells and the fluorescence intensity of FITC conjugated anti-CD11a were significantly higher in GCF than in PB (p < 0.001 to p < 0.01). CD11a+CD25+CD4+ cells were not detected in GCF in H group. The pocket epithelia expressed CD54 in P group, but not in H group. The number of CD11a+, CD25+ and CD4+ cells infiltrating the connective tissue subjacent to the upper, middle and lower parts of the CD54 positive pocket epithelium (n = 16) was 141 +/- 26, 38 +/- 13, 144 +/- 29 (cells/0.04 mm2), respectively, whereas in the CD54 negative pocket epithelium, it was (n = 5) 9 +/- 2, 3 +/- 1, 8 +/- 3. In P group, the CD11a+CD25+CD4+ cell number in GCF correlated with CD25+, CD11a+ cells in the connective tissue subjacent to the CD54+ pocket epithelium. These results indicate that expression of ICAM-1 in pocket epithelium is relevant to the migration of CD11a, CD25, CD4 positive cells in connective tissue subjacent to the pocket epithelium into the periodontal pocket. Assessing the relationship of our findings and other adhesion molecules would offer important clues to the understanding of T cell migration in affected gingiva.     

Subgingival temperature: relation to gingival crevicular fluid enzymes, cytokines, and subgingival plaque micro-organisms

There have been no reports on the relationship of subgingival temperature to specific gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) components. Therefore, the purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine whether there was any relationship between subgingival temperature and GCF levels of neutrophil elastase (NE), myeloperoxidase (MPO), beta-glucuronidase (BG), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1), and interferon alpha (IFN). Furthermore, another objective was to confirm an association of subgingival temperature with clinical parameters and specific subgingival plaque micro-organisms as has been reported earlier. 27 human subjects each having healthy (n = 50), gingivitis (n = 59) and periodontitis (n = 53) sites were evaluated. The plaque index (PI), subgingival temperature, probing depth, attachment loss, bleeding index and gingival index were measured. GCF was sampled following the measurement of the PI and removal of the supragingival plaque. GCF samples were assayed for the enzymes NE, BG, MPO and the cytokines IFN-alpha and IL-1 alpha. A sterile Gracey curette was utilized at each sampled site to collect subgingival plaque. The plaque samples were evaluated using an immunoassay. Subgingival temperature was found to directly correlate with all clinical parameters (p < 0.001). Significant, albeit not large, correlations were found between subgingival temperature and NE (r = 0.35, p < 0.001), MPO (r = 0.26, p < 0.001) and BG (r = 0.23, p < 0.01). Temperature was found to correlate positively with E. corrodens (r = 0.33, p < 0.02) and F. nucleatum (r = 0.25, p < 0.05) but not with P. intermedia (r = 0.02, p = 0.9), P. gingivalis (r = 0.20, p = 0.1) and A. actinomycetemcomitans (r = 0.01, p > 0.9). In conclusion, subgingival temperature is correlated with the GCF enzymes, NE, MPO and BG as well as the clinical parameters and specific plaque micro-organisms associated with periodontal disease.     

Isolation of Porphyromonas gingivalis and detection of immunoglobulin A specific to fimbrial antigen in gingival crevicular fluid

The present study evaluated the prevalence of Porphyromonas gingivalis and the correlation between the bacterial culture method and the detection of immunoglobulin A (IgA) specific to the P. gingivalis fimbrial antigen in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). P. gingivalis was isolated from 78.3% of subgingival plaque samples obtained from active sites and 34.7% of those from inactive sites of periodontal patients. P. gingivalis was isolated from only 4.7% of healthy subjects (control group). Immunoglobulins specific to the P. gingivalis fimbrial antigen were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The overall agreement between the results of the P. gingivalis culture method and the results of specific IgA detection in periodontal patients was 71.7% for active sites and 58.7% for inactive sites. IgA specific to P. gingivalis was absent in GCF from all of the sites of healthy subjects. The results suggest that P. gingivalis is associated with the local production of specific IgA. The detection of IgA antibodies specific to P. gingivalis in GCF by ELISA may be used as a predictive parameter to reveal the early phase of the activation of recurrent periodontal infections.     

Relationship between gingival crevicular fluid and serum specific antibody titers in periodontitis and changes after the treatment

Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were collected from 80 teeth in 20 periodontitis patients (13 RPP, 7 AP) before and 1 month, 7 months after treatment. Serum samples were taken at the same time. 12 healthy subjects (48 teeth) were chosen as the control group (H). The levels of IgG antibody to Bacteroides gingivalis was measured by ELISA. The relationship between serum and GCF specific antibodies was assessed. Before treatment, the mean ratio of antibody in GCF and serum (the GCF/Sr ratio) in both RPP and AP group was lower than 1, and significantly lower than that in H group. After treatment, the serum antibody titers greatly reduced while GCF antibody increased at 1 month after treatment and decreased at 7 months after treatment. The GCF/Sr ratio raised to greater than 1 in both RPP and AP. The elevation of GCF antibody may be associated with the lower antibody consumption caused by decreasing amount of B. gingivalis in pocket, and/or associated with the local antibody synthesis. It was suggested that the GCF/Sr ratio of antibody level might be used as a significant indicator in evaluation of treatment effectiveness.     

Immunochemical detection of the proteoglycans decorin and biglycan in human gingival crevicular fluid from sites of advanced periodontitis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of an assay based on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of cerebrospinal fluid in the management of patients with suspected herpes simplex encephalitis. METHODS: A decision model was constructed and used to compare a PCR-based approach with empiric therapy. Inputs required by the model included the sensitivity (96%) and specificity (99%) of PCR (derived from review of the literature), the prevalence of herpes simplex encephalitis (5%, based on the actual prevalence at Barnes Hospital among patients treated empirically with acyclovir), the outcomes for patients with and without herpes simplex encephalitis (derived from clinical studies of the Collaborative Antiviral Study Group and the actual experience at Barnes Hospital), and the average duration of empiric acyclovir therapy for patients with possible herpes simplex encephalitis (5.3 days based on actual experience at Barnes Hospital). RESULTS: Using these input values, the decision model predicted better outcomes with empiric therapy. However, low rates of inappropriate discontinuation of empiric therapy in patients with herpes simplex encephalitis or improved diagnosis and outcome resulting from a negative PCR assay result in patients without herpes simplex encephalitis led to better outcomes with the PCR-based approach. The PCR-based approach was associated with 9.2 fewer doses of acyclovir per patient. CONCLUSION: Based on the decision model using conservative assumptions, a PCR-based approach can yield better outcomes and reduced acyclovir use compared with empiric therapy.     

Effects of treatment on antibody titer to Porphyromonas gingivalis in gingival crevicular fluid of patients with rapidly progressive periodontitis

Twenty-eight patients diagnosed as having rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP) were enrolled in a study in which samples of subgingival microflora were harvested from test teeth and assayed for the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, and GCF collected and analyzed by ELISA for specific antibody for P. gingivalis. Clinical conditions were measured and recorded, and treatment by scaling and root planing provided at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Reduction in pocket depth, stabilization of attachment level, and resolution of inflammation were comparable to previously reported values. By 3 months, mean and median specific antibody concentration had decreased, and continued to decrease through 12 months. The proportion of samples in which specific antibody was not detectable increased from 27% at baseline to 73% at month 12. GCF samples from sites at which P. gingivalis was present had greater than 2-fold higher median specific antibody than samples from P. gingivalis-negative sites. At baseline, specific antibody titer of 30-second GCF samples positively correlated with pocket depth, and GCF volume significantly correlated with antibody titer and concentration, and with pocket depth. In addition, change in specific antibody titer of 30-second samples from baseline to both 6 and 12 months correlated positively with pocket depths. Thus sites infected by P. gingivalis manifested high levels of specific antibody, and levels were related to clinical status. Following treatment, antibody levels decreased significantly as pocket depths decreased, attachment levels stabilized, and inflammation resolved.     

Tetracycline inhibition and the cellular source of collagenase in gingival crevicular fluid in different periodontal diseases. A review article

The effectiveness of bibliotherapy as an adjunct to stimulant medication in the treatment of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder was investigated. Subjects were randomly assigned to the experimental group, or the control group. Parents in the experimental group received a written protocol (bibliotherapy) outlining behavioral techniques for managing oppositional child behavior. Results indicated significant differences favoring the experimental group on standardized measures of the intensity of behavior problems in the home, parental knowledge of behavioral principles, and teacher ratings of behavior. This bibliotherapy approach appears to offer an inexpensive adjunct to stimulant medication in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder when individual or group behavior management training is not feasible.     

Differential expression of CR3, Fc epsilon RII and Fc gamma RIII on polymorphonuclear leukocytes in gingival crevicular fluid

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) are the most numerous cell population among the cellular infiltrates in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and play important roles in the host-defensive system in the gingival crevices. We determined the percentage of neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils in total PMNLs by light microscopic observation using Randolph-methylene blue staining, then assessed flow cytometric differences in the expression of CR3, Fc gamma RIII, Fc epsilon RII, LFA-1 alpha, and LFA-1 beta on PMNL in GCF and peripheral blood (PB) from 21 patients with adult periodontitis (AP) and 13 healthy donors. Percentages of basophils and eosinophils were higher in GCF than in PB. In both AP patients and healthy subjects, expression of CR3 and Fc epsilon RII was higher while Fc gamma RIII was lower in GCF than in PB. The statistical analysis showed that the expressions of Fc gamma RIII and Fc epsilon RII on GCF PMNLs were lower in AP patients than in healthy subjects. Expressions of LFA-1 alpha and beta on GCF were similar to those on PB PMNLs. PB PMNLs stimulated in vitro with Porphyromonas gingivalis culture supernatant and fMLP displayed an expression pattern of CR3, Fc gamma RIII and Fc epsilon RII on GCF PMNLs. However, C5a and IL-1 failed to induce changes in Fc gamma RIII and Fc epsilon RII. The results indicate that GCF neutrophils are activated, present enhanced adhesion and a decreased IgG-binding ability which would reflect that they are at the terminal stage of activation, and that GCF contains a larger eosinophil fraction than in PB. Moreover, these GCF eosinophils appear to be activated.     

Interleukin-1 beta induced-desArg9bradykinin-mediated thermal hyperalgesia in the rat

The induction of desArg9Bk-mediated thermal hyperalgesia has been studied in the rat. Intraplantar injections of interleukin-1 beta, (IL-1 beta, 1-100 Units, U) produced a 30-40% decrease in withdrawal latency to noxious heat which lasted for up to 24 hr in the treated paw. IL-1 beta-induced thermal hyperalgesia was also present in the contralateral paw for up to 1 hr following IL-1 beta injection. Intraplantar tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha, 500 U) also reduced the withdrawal latency in the u.v.-treated paw with recovery by 18 hr but with no contralateral hyperalgesia. Forty-eight hr after IL-1 beta but not after TNF alpha administration, desArg9Bk (10 nmol/kg i.v.) reduced the withdrawal latency in both the ipsi- and contra-lateral paws by 30-49%. In naive animals, desArg9Bk was without effect. These data suggest that, in the rat, IL-1 beta but not TNF alpha can lead to the induction of bradykinin B1 receptors mediating thermal hyperalgesia.     

A comparison of cysteine and serine proteinases in human gingival crevicular fluid with tissue, saliva and bacterial enzymes by analytical isoelectric focusing

The humoral immune response against human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in the central nervous system (CNS) compartment and in the blood was investigated by enzyme immunoassay using 16 synthetic peptides corresponding to HTLV-I core and envelope sequences. We evaluated paired samples of cerebrospinal fluid and serum from HTLV-I seropositive Japanese patients, classified as follows: HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP; n = 39), patients with spinal cord disease ascribed to either HAM/TSP or to some concomitant, HTLV-I-unrelated disease (possible HAM/TSP; n = 6) or carriers without any clinical signs of HAM/TSP (n = 15). HTLV-I-peptide-specific intrathecal antibody synthesis was found in 79% of HAM/TSP patients, but only in 20% of carriers without HAM/TSP. The group of carriers without HAM/TSP showed local synthesis for some peptides (on average 0.3 peptides per patient). In most HAM/TSP patients, however, there was a diverse intrathecal immune response to several HTLV-I synthetic peptides (on average against 3.6 peptides per HAM/TSP patient), most frequently against gag p19 100-130, env gp21 458-488, and env gp46 175-199 and 288-317. The intrathecal antibody synthesis against several HTLV-I determinants may represent a pathogenic immune response in HAM/TSP and is possibly related to the infiltration of virus-infected T-cells in the spinal cord.     

Interleukin-1beta expression after inhibition of protein phosphatases in endotoxin-tolerant cells

BACKGROUND: There are cogent reasons why public health specialists should take an active interest in and measure the psychological health and well-being of populations. The literature was searched and reviewed with the aim of evaluating survey instruments that would enable public health specialists to measure the psychological health and well-being of populations. METHODS: The search and review were restricted to instruments that were applicable to adults of working age, and that did not focus on psychotic disorder or organic brain disorder. An attempt was also made to identify instruments that were designed to measure some form of positive well-being and could be applied in population-based surveys. Detailed evaluation was then carried out of two or three instruments that appeared representative of a particular field or approach. RESULTS: The literature search revealed three major fields of research, 'Psychiatric Epidemiology', 'Stress Studies' and 'Subjective Well-being'. Accordingly, the results of the review are presented under these three headings. Results pertaining to commonly used survey instruments in the field of 'Psychiatric Epidemiology' are presented. (Those on 'Stress Studies' and 'Subjective Well-being' are presented in Part 2 of this study.) CONCLUSIONS: Although some questionnaires in the field of 'Psychiatric Epidemiology', such as the General Health Questionnaire and the HAD Scale, offer a valid and convenient means of measuring degrees of neurotic disorder in a population, they do not measure any form of positive well-being. In Part 2, methods of measurement from the other two fields are reviewed and overall conclusions are drawn about the options available to public health specialists.     

Evaluation of osteocalcin and pyridinium crosslinks of bone collagen as markers of bone turnover in gingival crevicular fluid during different stages of orthodontic treatment

Treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) has been shown to cause reduced libido and anorgasmia in women. A large body of evidence suggests that serotonin may influence sexual behavior in estradiol + progesterone primed, gonadectomized female rats; however, the influence of selective SRIs on the estrous behavior of intact female rats has not been described previously. In the present study, the effect of 1 to 3 weeks of fluoxetine administration (10 mg/kg daily) on vaginal and behavioral estrus in intact female rats was studied; in addition, the effect of fluoxetine (same dose, 1-8 weeks) on copulatory behavior and on sexual motivation in hormone-primed gonadectomized rats was investigated. Subchronic administration of fluoxetine did not influence cyclicity as judged by the examination of vaginal smears but significantly reduced the percentage of rats displaying receptive behavior in the estrous phase. In addition, fluoxetine significantly reduced receptive behavior, including lordosis, in ovariectomized female rats primed with estradiol (6.25 micrograms/rat; -48 hr) plus progesterone (1.0 mg/rat, -4 hr); in contrast, sexual motivation--as reflected by the amount of time these rats elected to spend in the vicinity of a male rather than in the vicinity of a female or elsewhere--was little affected by the treatment.